| RQ-20 Puma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| RQ-20A launch by US Marine; his hand gives an idea of scale | |
| Role | Remote controlled UAS |
| Manufacturer | AeroVironment |
| First flight | 2007 |
| Primary users | United States Army United States Marine Corps |
| Number built | 1000+ |
The AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma is a small, battery powered, American hand-launched unmanned aircraft system produced by AeroVironment based in California. Primary mission is surveillance and intelligence gathering using an electro-optical and infrared video camera. Previously selected for the United States Special Operations Command in 2008, in March 2012 the United States Army ordered the Puma All Environment (AE) and designated it the RQ-20A.[1] In April, the United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force placed a similar order for the RQ-20A.[2][3] Each military RQ-20A system has three air vehicles and two ground stations.[1]
On 26 July 2013, the Puma became one of the first unmanned aerial vehicles to be granted certification by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly in U.S. airspace for commercial purposes. AeroVironment expects one to be deployed to Alaska to support oil spill response crews and count wildlife. The Puma can safely accomplish observation missions in hazardous Arctic locations, which is safer, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than using manned aircraft. Commercial certification was the result of previous military certification and the Congressionally-mandated opening of airspace over much of Alaska to small UAVs.[4] The FAA also certified the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle, also planned to be deployed to Alaska. Only three individual Pumas were certified with strict requirements: only one aircraft of the type is allowed airborne at any one time, they cannot fly through clouds or icing conditions, and they cannot take off or land during certain gust and wind conditions. The certifications did not mention line-of-sight control.[5]
Variants[]
- RQ-20A Puma
- Military designation for the Puma All Environment variant.
- Solar Puma
- Puma AE powered by ultra-thin solar cells that increases endurance to 9 hours.[6] Production version planned for early 2014.[7]
- Enhanced Puma
- Upgrade of the RQ-20A Puma AE with more powerful propulsion system and new batteries that increase endurance by 75 percent to three and a half hours, auxiliary payload bay to integrate payloads while keeping the video camera, precision navigation system with secondary GPS, and a redesigned durable fuselage with reinforced construction and improved aerodynamics. Will be available in early 2014.[8]
Operators[]
- United States Special Operations Command
- United States Army - 325 systems, one per infantry company and 18 per brigade[9]
- United States Marine Corps
- United States Navy
- United States Air Force
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration[10]
Specification[]
Data from [11]Puma AE data sheet
General characteristics
- Length: 4 ft 7 in (1.4 m)
- Wingspan: 9 ft 2 in (2.8 m)
- Max takeoff weight: 13 lb (5.9 kg)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 52 mph; 45 kn (83 km/h)
- Minimum control speed: 23 mph; 20 kn (37 km/h)
- Range: 9 mi; 8 nmi (15 km)
- Endurance: 2 hours
See also[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to AeroVironment. |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 U.S. Army Places $20.4 Million Order for AeroVironment RQ-20A Puma AE Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- ↑ U.S. Marine Corps First to Procure Four Different AeroVironment Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems with $5.5 Million RQ-20A Puma Order
- ↑ AeroVironment Scores Another Small UAS Success - Ainonline.com, 27 April 2012
- ↑ AeroVironment’s Puma becomes first UAV to earn FAA commercial certification - Flightglobal.com, 26 July 2013
- ↑ FAA certifies two UAVs for commercial operations - Flightglobal.com, 26 July 2013
- ↑ Launch This New 9-Hour Solar-Powered Drone from Your Shoulder - Wired.com, 13 August 2013
- ↑ AeroVironment Solar-Powered Puma AE Small Unmanned Aircraft Achieves Continuous Flight for More Than Nine Hours - sUASNews.com, 16 August 2013
- ↑ AeroVironment Introduces Block Upgrade to Puma AE Unmanned Aircraft System, Including 75 Percent Increase in Flight Duration - sUASNews.com, 21 October 2013
- ↑ Puma numbers - Strategypage.com, February 19, 2013
- ↑ [1] - NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
- ↑ Puma AE data sheet
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The original article can be found at AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma and the edit history here.