Digital UAVs from AeroVironment ordered by USSOCOM

    Sept. 1, 2010
    MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., 1 Sept. 2010. The U.S. Special Operations Command (USOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., ordered digital Puma All Environment (AE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), spares and training services from AeroVironment, Inc. in Monrovia, Calif. Puma, a hand-thrown UAV, performs multiple surveillance and reconnaissance missions over water or land and can be used by soldiers to protect troops and vehicles in combat areas.
    Pennwell web 120 80
    Pennwell web 120 80
    Posted by John McHaleMACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., 1 Sept. 2010. The U.S. Special Operations Command (USOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., ordered digital Puma All Environment (AE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), spares and training services from AeroVironment, Inc. in Monrovia, Calif. Puma, a hand-launched UAV, performs multiple surveillance and reconnaissance missions over water or land and can be used by soldiers to protect troops and vehicles in combat areas.Each Puma system consists of three air vehicles and two ground control systems. The air vehicle carries an integrated electro-optical and infrared gimbaled video camera, is designed for enhanced survivability in land and maritime environments, and can operate effectively in foul weather and over rugged terrain. The system has quiet operation, stabilized imagery, and precision landing capability for easy operation and recovery. The Puma air vehicle weighs 13 pounds, is battery powered, and has a flight endurance of two hours.The contract is valued at $35,265,662 and was were procured under the existing USSOCOM All Environment Capable Variant (AECV) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. Work is scheduled to be performed within a period of several months."The battle-proven Puma system will now play an important new role helping troops operate more effectively and safely as they travel through dangerous territory," says Tom Herring, senior vice president and general manager of AeroVironment's unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) segment. "The Puma system is a portable, hand-launched UAS that will enhance soldier capabilities by producing aerial high quality color and infrared video of the surrounding area." USSOCOM selected the Puma UAS in 2008 for its AECV program after a full and open competition, the fourth U.S. Department of Defense competition for programs of record involving small UAS and the fourth such competition won by AeroVironment. Other U.S. forces also use the Puma system. Raven, Wasp, and Puma comprise AeroVironment's family of small UASs. Operating with a common ground control system, this family of systems provides an increased capability to the warfighter that will give ground commanders the option of selecting the appropriate aircraft based on the type of mission that is going to be performed.

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