Puma 3 AE (all-environment) is a third-generation tactical unmanned aircraft system (UAS) developed by AeroVironment for land and maritime operations.
The unmanned aircraft is designed for precise intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and expeditionary reconnaissance, force protection, and overwatch over land and sea. It provides system-level improvements suited to land and maritime operations.
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Within the small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) class, Puma 3 AE delivers a level of operational flexibility not previously available, with enhanced support for secondary payload upgrades and integration of third-party applications.
Puma 3 AE UAS design and features
Puma 3 AE measures 1.4m (4.6ft) in length with a wingspan of 2.8m and weighs 7.1kg (15.6lb).
The UAS comprises a tactical aircraft, payloads and ground segment. The fully man-portable system fits in a single case, reducing the logistics footprint.
The platform features a reinforced airframe with additional aerodynamic rounded edges to deliver an efficient flight operation while reducing wind drag. The main wings are mounted above the fuselage, while the tail assembly features an inverted T-tail configuration.
The UAV can be thrown by hand, an optional bungee launch or a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) kit. It can be recovered either automatically or using a manual deep stall landing method in land and marine environments, or a VTOL kit.
Payloads details
Puma 3 AE carries the Mantis i45 electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor suite beneath the fuselage, which combines multiple all-environment imaging sensors such as a 50x Dual 15-megapixel (MP) EO/IR camera, a 1.2-megapixel low-light camera and a 640 x 512-pixel thermal infrared (IR) imaging system to provide high-resolution imagery during day and night in extreme environments.
The gimbal payload is also integrated with an 860-nanometre (nm) laser illuminator to offer superior illumination. It offers continuous 360-degree pan and 30-degree to -90-degree tilt.
The UAS can also switch to the Mantis i45 N, a dual-axis, gyro-stabilised, multi-sensor payload for night-time imaging. The system incorporates upgraded long-wave IR thermal (LWIR) cameras, including a narrow-angle 32mm unit and a wide-angle 9.2mm IR option with 7.6x electronic zoom. It also adds a 5MP monochrome sensor for low-light imaging alongside an 860nm laser illuminator.
Command and control of Puma 3 AE UAS
The drone can be operated in autonomous and manual modes. In the autonomous mode of operation, the unmanned aircraft uses a global positioning system for precise navigation.
The ground control system (GCS) options include Tomahawk, Crysalis or the Legacy GCS.
Operators can manually navigate the aircraft, using AeroVironment’s common GCS, which comprises a Panasonic Toughbook CF-33 laptop with a larger screen and a removable keyboard. Puma 3 AE uses an enhanced digital data link to transmit real-time imagery with AES-256-bit encryption to the GCS.
The standard antenna enables a link range of up to 20km, extending to 40km when equipped with an extended range antenna. Link range can be extended further to 60km when using AeroVironment’s long-range tracking antenna.
Puma 3 AE UAS performance
The Puma 3 AE UAS is installed with an enhanced propulsion system, integrating a two-blade propeller mounted in tractor configuration and has a cruise speed of 47km/h (25 knots) and a dash speed of 76km/h.
It typically operates between 300ft and 3,000ft (91m–914m) above ground level, with a maximum launch altitude of 10,000ft (3,048m) mean sea level (MSL) and a maximum flight altitude of 10,500ft MSL.
For a 10km mission, the time to target is 13 minutes with a loiter time of 2.6 hours, while a 20km mission takes 26 minutes to reach the target and allows for 2.1 hours of loiter. At 30km, the time to target increases to 38 minutes with a loiter time of 1.7 hours.
Platform upgrades
AeroVironment launched a Puma VTOL kit in May 2023, intended for plug-and-play integration with the Puma 2 AE and Puma 3 AE.
In February 2024, the company’s PS2500 battery was approved for use with the Puma 3 AE UAS. This optional PS2500 battery extends endurance to up to three hours, compared with the standard smart battery, which delivers two and a half hours.
In November 2024, AeroVironment detailed a set of software updates branded Project GOLD for the Puma 3 AE and Puma LE, aimed at improving performance in contested environments without requiring hardware changes. The update adds further Assured Position Navigation and Timing functionality for GNSS-denied operations, enhances visual navigation with end-to-end GNSS-denied capability plus additional spoofing detection and rejection, and strengthens radio security through updated software and user interface/user experience.
The software also increases Puma 3 payload capacity via the Heavy Lift Software by 60%, taking the total payload to up to 6.5lb from the base 4lb.
Orders and deliveries of AeroVironment’s Puma 3 AE
US Border Patrol, part of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), placed a $5.25m contract for Puma 3 AE UAS in October 2019.
AeroVironment was awarded a contract by the US Department of Defense in December 2019 to provide Puma 3 AE UAS to an allied nation under a foreign military sales (FMS) contract.
The company received a $10.67m contract for Puma 3 AE and spare parts under the US Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems programme in February 2020. The US Navy and Marine Corps (USMC) placed another order worth $6.2m in May 2022 for the supply of Puma 3 AE systems and spare parts.
The Nato Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) placed two orders worth $9.8m for Puma 3 AE and Raven UAS in March and April 2020. The orders are part of a three-year base contract signed in January 2020.
In April 2021, AeroVironment announced four firm fixed price orders worth $11.5m from the NSPA for Puma 3 AE and initial spares packages under the base contract. It included an option for a further two years of logistics support covering the Raven, Wasp and Puma systems. The orders were received in October and December 2020.
The company was awarded a $5.9m firm-fixed-price FMS contract in December 2020 to supply Puma 3 AE systems, along with training and support, to a European allied nation.
In July 2021, AeroVironment announced two firm fixed price orders worth $15.9m from the US Air Force. The awards were received in April and May 2021 and covered the procurement of Puma 3 AE systems with associated spares packages, alongside Raven UAS spares packages. The Puma 3 AE systems and spares were delivered in April 2021.
AeroVironment received another firm fixed price FMS contract worth $4.1m in September 2021 to supply Puma 3 AE and Wasp AE sUAS, along with initial spares packages, training and support, to an allied country.
In February 2022, AeroVironment announced an $8.5m firm-fixed-price FMS contract awarded in January 2022, to supply Puma 3 AE systems, initial spares packages, training and support to an allied nation.
AeroVironment reported that it had been awarded a $6.1m firm fixed price contract to supply Puma 3 AE systems and spares to the USMC in May 2022.
