British Columbia, Canada. (June 30, 2023): In this photo by Tech. Sgt. Betty R. Chevalier, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Harbeck, 824th Base Defense Squadron fire team member, discusses Puma Unmanned Aerial System operations with members of the Royal Canadian Navy during exercise Agile Blizzard-Unified Vision 2023. Both the U.S. and Canadian Air Forces operate the Puma UAS and the exercise gave technicians a chance to share techniques and tactics.
The Puma is a hand launched Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operated by two person teams. It can fly up to 6.5 hours, has a range of thirty-seven miles, and can fly at speeds up to fifty mph. This lightweight, highly portable drone is ideal for surveillance and intelligence gathering by small units on the front lines. The plane uses electro-optical and infrared cameras to transmit video images in real time to battlefield commanders directing combat operations. The Puma system is deployed with three air vehicles and two ground stations and is designed to operate under extreme weather conditions including temperatures ranging from twenty below to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
month, the U.S. military announced it is sending an unspecified number of Puma drones as part of the latest security assistance package for Ukraine to use in their fight against Russia.
Technologies like the Puma have played a critical role in helping Ukraine’s military locate and target Russian forces.