U.S. Marines Order RQ-20A Puma AE sUAS for Remote Scouting

By Caroline Rees / 26 Nov 2015

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST
RQ-20A Puma AE SUAS

Image: AeroVironment, Inc.

AeroVironment, Inc. has received a firm fixed-price order valued at $13,015,396 for RQ-20A Puma™ AE small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and initial spares packages for the United States Marine Corps on October 27, 2015.

The Marine Corps employs the Puma AE system as the long-range solution for its small unit remote scouting system (SURSS), complementing the AeroVironment RQ-11B Raven® and RQ-12A Wasp® AE UAS.

“The Puma AE unmanned aircraft system delivers situational awareness directly to its operator in ground, riverine and maritime operations,” said Kirk Flittie, AeroVironment vice president and general manager of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems business segment. “Working with the professionals at ADS, we continue to support the Marine Corps with reliable, easy-to-use UAS solutions that help give them information superiority on the battlefield.”

AeroVironment received the order from ADS, Inc. on behalf of the U.S. Marine Corps through the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) program. Delivery is scheduled within 12 months.

The Puma AE weighs 13.5 pounds, operates for more than 210 minutes at a range of up to 15 kilometers and delivers live, streaming color and infrared video as well as laser illumination from its pan-tilt-zoom Mantis i23 AE gimbaled payload. Launched by hand and capable of landing on the ground or in fresh or salt water, the Puma AE provides portability and flexibility for infantry, littoral or maritime reconnaissance operations.

Posted by Caroline Rees Caroline co-founded Unmanned Systems Technology and has been at the forefront of the business ever since. With a Masters Degree in marketing Caroline has her finger on the pulse of all things unmanned and is committed to showcasing the very latest in unmanned technical innovation. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

New AI Emission Detector for Autonomous Drones Enables Remote Methane Monitoring

Percepto has introduced an AI-powered emission detection system that combines autonomous drones and real-time analytics to streamline methane monitoring and regulatory compliance for oil and gas operators

Jun 20, 2025
CRP Technology Receives ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Certification for Additive Manufacturing

CRP Technology has obtained ISO 14001:2015 certification from DNV, covering its additive manufacturing processes and confirming alignment with international environmental management standards

Jun 20, 2025
Chess Dynamics Demonstrates Advanced AI Tracking in Challenging Field Trials

Chess Dynamics has demonstrated its advanced AI tracking technology in demanding multi-domain trials, showcasing reliable target tracking, classification and sensor performance in complex conditions

Jun 20, 2025
Marine Laboratory Advances Shallow Water Mapping with RIEGL Bathymetric LiDAR

Plymouth Marine Laboratory is advancing shallow water mapping using RIEGL's UAV-mounted bathymetric LiDAR, enabling high-resolution, low-impact environmental data collection and research

Jun 20, 2025
Evolito to Develop Electric Propulsion System in New Aerospace Collaboration

Evolito and VÆRIDION have partnered to develop electric propulsion technology for the Microliner aircraft, aiming to deliver improved propulsion efficiency and operational safety

Jun 19, 2025
New GA-ASI Collaboration Enhances AEW Capability on MQ-9B Platform

General Atomics and Saab are collaborating to equip the MQ-9B unmanned aircraft with advanced AEW&C capabilities, expanding cost-effective aerial surveillance options

Jun 19, 2025

Featured Content

Exail Showcases Integrated USV & AUV Operations in Collaborative Trial

Exail’s DriX USV and Ifremer’s Ulyx AUV were jointly deployed for the first time, demonstrating advanced cooperative capabilities in deep-sea exploration

Jun 19, 2025
HBK Updates RTK Service for Precise Positioning in Autonomous Systems

HBK has updated its SensorCloud RTK service, integrating with MicroStrain by HBK navigation systems to provide centimeter-level accuracy and simplified deployment for autonomous systems

Jun 17, 2025
MEMS DC Accelerometers from SDI Deliver Superior Performance for Unmanned Systems

SDI's MEMS DC accelerometers offer a robust solution for unmanned aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles, providing precise static and dynamic motion sensing, crucial for autonomous navigation, attitude feedback, and structural monitoring

Jun 12, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.