KORTHOS / ECOSYSTEM / PRODUCT

Puma 3 AE

About

About Puma 3 AE

Puma 3 AE is a 7.1-kilogram hand-launched aircraft designed to land on the ground or water. It flies for approximately three hours and operates over standard ranges of 20 kilometres, with extended-range antenna options increasing the communications envelope for tactical missions.

The Mantis i45 payload combines high-resolution electro-optical and infrared imaging in a stabilised gimbal, while heavier payload configurations support additional sensors. The sealed all-environment airframe can be recovered from water and relaunched, making it suitable for maritime patrol as well as land-based surveillance. A small team carries, assembles and operates the system without launch equipment.

01 JUN 2026

Robotics developments — 1–5 June 2026

Capabilities

Source-backed capabilities

  • Capability areas: Remote operation
  • Workflows: Tactical ISR mission, Drone ISR
  • Operating environments: Defence operational environment
  • Deployment model: Hand-launched small UAS operated by military and public-sector teams.
  • VTOL transition flight

    Claimed - AeroVironment presents Puma 3 AE as a combat-proven all-environment ISR system with optional VTOL operation for complex terrain.

    Source
  • Long-endurance flight

    Claimed - AeroVironment presents Puma 3 AE as a combat-proven all-environment ISR system with optional VTOL operation for complex terrain.

    Source
  • ISR and tactical support

    Commercial deployment - AeroVironment presents Puma 3 AE as a combat-proven all-environment ISR system with optional VTOL operation for complex terrain.

    Source

Operations

  • Order / Commitment

    $20.86 million - 2022-09-20 - allied nations via Foreign Military Sales - military small-UAS procurement - AeroVironment secured $20.86 million in Puma 3 AE unmanned aircraft systems Foreign Military Sales awards for allied nations.

    Source

Timeline

  • AeroVironment wins $30.9 million LARUS order for Germany

    2026-07-07 - Contract Award - The package includes Puma 3 AE and Puma LE configurations, with SIGINT payloads and MANET relay kits. New-equipment and specialist payload training are included, with deliveries required by late 2026. The order adds VTOL kits, autonomy retrofits and Tomahawk Kinesis-enabled ground-control equipment.

    Source
  • AeroVironment secures $20.86 million Puma 3 AE FMS awards

    2022-09-20 - Contract Award - AeroVironment announced two firm-fixed-price U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Military Sales awards totaling $20.86 million for Puma 3 AE systems. The awards covered Puma 3 AE small UAS, initial spares, training, and contractor logistics support for two allied nations.

    Source

Context

Market context

AeroVironment Puma 3 AE tactical ISR small UAS with Mantis i45 EO/IR payload for defense and public safety missions.

  • Target environment: Defence field units, maritime operations and austere tactical environments.
  • Workflow context: Tactical reconnaissance, surveillance, target observation and remote video intelligence.
  • Deployment model: Hand-launched small UAS operated by military and public-sector teams.
  • Commercial maturity: Mature fielded small UAS used by defence, government and public-sector operators.
  • Adoption constraints: Requires trained operators, sensor payload management, tactical communications and airspace coordination.
  • Market position: Established Blue UAS-class tactical ISR drone with broad defence adoption.
  • Adjacent products: Small tactical ISR UAV for field units needing portable reconnaissance and surveillance.

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    TEKEVER - UAV

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