The Air Force awarded AeroVironment a firm-fixed-price order worth $2.4 million through an existing Army contract for Puma small vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), according to a company statement.
The contract, awarded April 5, expects delivery within two weeks, according to a statement.
Each Puma system consists of three air vehicles and two ground control systems, according to a statement. The air vehicle carries an integrated electro-optical and infrared gimbaled video camera, is designed for survivability in land and maritime environments and can operate in foul weather and over rugged terrain, according to a statement. The Puma air vehicle weighs 13 pounds, is battery powered and has a flight endurance of two hours, according to a statement.
Puma uses the same universal ground control system that AeroVironment uses for the Switchblade loitering and munition system (Defense Daily, Feb. 27).