AeroVironment has launched its Puma Long Endurance (LE) UAS, which is the next generation in the company’s Puma All Environment (AE) small UAS product line.

With new capabilities, increased range, and expanded payload capacity, the Puma LE builds on the Puma AE legacy, delivering Group 2 capabilities in a Group 1 footprint. The UAS is equipped with Mantis i45 gimbaled EO/IR sensor and NVG-visible laser illuminator, helping to provide the warfighter with superior imagery for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) during day, night and low-light operations on land and in maritime environments.

“Puma LE is the next generation of the combat-proven Puma AE small UAS, delivering immediate tactical ISR, extended endurance and a dedicated secondary payload bay to dramatically expand its mission capabilities,” explains Rick Pedigo, vice president of sales and business development for AeroVironment.

“With Puma LE, AeroVironment expands the envelope of small unmanned aircraft systems, and enables our customers to proceed with certainty in ever-changing operational environments.”

Weighing just 22.5 pounds, Puma LE can be launched by hand or bungee, making it easy to deploy and recover.

The UAS has 5.5 hours’ worth of flight endurance thanks to its on-board batteries, which doubles the time on station of Puma 3 AE. When used with AeroVironment’s Long-Range Tracking Antenna (LRTA), the UAS can operate at a range of up to 60 kilometers.

Additionally, Puma LE’s economical dual-case mission pack is equipped with everything needed to perform two complete 5.5-hour missions with a single aircraft and Ground Control System (GCS).

Purpose-built for multi-mission operations with up to 5.5 pounds of total payload capacity, Puma LE has a ruggedized secondary payload bay that allows third-party payloads with a dedicated power supply providing 18-24 volts at up to 5 amps to be integrated, as well as an Ethernet connection port for payload communications. With this capability, operators have the flexibility to incorporate specialized payloads such as electronic warfare, RF emitter geolocation, laser designation, communications relay and others.

Puma LE can be operated manually, as well as autonomously using AeroVironment’s common GCS. The UAS utilizes plug and play, interoperable line-replaceable unit (LRU) components that can be shared with other Puma AE aircraft.

“This native compatibility reduces training and logistical impact for operators,” AeroVironment says.

To optimize their fielded systems, current Puma AE customers can now purchase the Puma LE as an add-on aircraft and install Puma AE LRU components. Multiple Puma LE system options provide customers with the flexibility to choose the correct configuration based on mission requirements.