AeroVironment’s PS2500 battery is now approved for use in the Puma™ 3 AE unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The optional PS2500 battery allows operators to achieve extended endurance of up to three hours of flight time. The increased endurance provides operators with greater mission flexibility and time on station across land and maritime operations. Puma customers can now choose between the standard smart battery with two and a half hours of endurance, or the PS2500 battery with three hours of endurance. The high-energy-density lithium-ion PS2500 battery pack features an improved capacity of 24.5Ah (amp-hours) while retaining the size and form factor needed to be seamlessly integrated into Puma 3 AE’s existing battery bay and is also interoperable with Puma LE as a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU).
“The new PS2500 battery offers both new and current Puma customers the opportunity to dramatically expand the duration of their operations, enabling more ground covered in a single flight. Adding longer endurance capabilities to Puma’s existing flexible launch options and modularity makes it a truly unparalleled asset for various types of operations,” said Brad Truesdell, AeroVironment’s vice president and general manager of small UAS (SUAS).
Battlefield-proven, the third-generation Puma 3 AE (All Environment) delivers mission critical ISR in all environments. Redesigned to deliver class-leading performance, the lightweight group 1 UAS features a reinforced airframe with an optional under wing transit bay for secondary payloads and third-party applications. Multi-mission capable, operators can swap between Mantis™ i45 and the enhanced night variant Mantis™ i45 N, for day, night, and low light operations in all environments. Launchable by hand, bungee, rail, or vehicle, and recoverable by deep-stall landing, the Puma 3 AE provides class leading capability in challenging environments around the world. Available kits and accessories expand the operational capabilities by providing vertical take-off and landing in constrained area operations and GPS-denied navigation in contested environments.
AeroVironment is a global leader in intelligent multi-domain robotic systems, uncrewed aircraft and ground systems, sensors, software analytics, and connectivity. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, AeroVironment delivers actionable intelligence so our customers can proceed with certainty. Paul B. MacCready Jr., a designer of human-powered aircraft, founded the company in 1971. The company is best known for its lightweight human-powered and solar-powered vehicles. The company is the US military’s top supplier of small drones —notably the Raven, Switchblade, Wasp and Puma models.
