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RQ-20 Puma

AeroVironment · Fixed Wing / Small tactical ISR · USA · Modern (1992–2009)

RQ-20 Puma — Fixed Wing / Small tactical ISR
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The AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma is an American hand-launchable, electric-powered miniature unmanned aerial vehicle developed by AeroVironment for U.S. military and allied requirements. Entering U.S. service in 2008, the Puma has become one of the most widely deployed hand-launched UAVs in the world, flown by the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and 25+ allied and partner nations. Its compact size, hand-launch and soft-landing recovery, and field-proven reliability have made it the de-facto Western standard for forward-deployed squad-level ISR.

This fixed-wing airframe measures 4.6 ft (1.4 m) long with a 9.2 ft (2.8 m) wingspan. Empty weight is 13.5 lb (6.1 kg) and maximum take-off weight 15 lb (6.8 kg). A single 1.0 hp (750 W) electric motor turns a propeller for a top speed of around 50 mph, with 2.5-hour typical endurance — extended to 9+ hours on the long-life battery — and a service ceiling of 10,500 ft. The operator hand-throws the airframe into flight; recovery is by deep-stall landing onto ground or water, the buoyant fuselage allowing maritime missions. Standard sensors comprise a stabilised EO/IR turret with daylight, infrared and low-light cameras, GPS-augmented autonomous navigation, an encrypted data-link, and a modular payload bay supporting alternative sensor fits.

Forward-unit ISR is the Puma's core mission, giving infantry, Marine Corps and Special Operations teams organic real-time aerial surveillance out to 9 nmi from the launch point. The launching unit assembles the aircraft and throws it skyward from any location — no runway or launcher needed. The operator tracks it via a portable ground-control station while the aircraft autonomously navigates to designated points and streams real-time video and imagery, then recovers by deep-stall landing for re-use. Typical taskings include reconnaissance of approach routes, surveillance of suspected enemy positions, and search-and-rescue support.

The Puma has been continuously deployed since 2008. Major U.S. operations include Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan, 2008-2021), Operation Iraqi Freedom (2008-2011), Operation Inherent Resolve (Iraq / Syria, 2014-present), Operation Allies Welcome (Afghanistan evacuation, 2021), and U.S. Special Operations Command missions worldwide. Foreign operators include the United Kingdom (150+ delivered to the British Army and Royal Marines), Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and the Czech Republic, alongside other NATO and partner nations. The U.S. delivered 30+ RQ-20 to Ukraine in 2022 under military assistance packages, and Ukrainian forces have used Puma extensively for ISR against Russian troops. More than 10,000 RQ-20s have been delivered globally, with production continuing at AeroVironment's Simi Valley, California facility.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma is a small military drone, light enough for one person to hand-launch like a paper airplane. The Puma flies low and watches the area below with cameras, sending live video back to soldiers on the ground. The American Army, Marines, and Special Forces all use Pumas.

The Puma is small: 4.6 feet long with a 9-foot wingspan, smaller than a small car. It weighs only 13 pounds, light enough to carry in a backpack. An electric motor turns a propeller in the nose, letting the drone fly for over 2.5 hours and reach 12 miles from its operator.

To launch a Puma, a soldier holds it over the head and throws it like a paper airplane. The motor starts up and the drone climbs away. To land, the operator brings it down gently into water, snow, or sand. The Puma has a special belly that protects the cameras during landings.

Over 3,500 Pumas have been built since 2008. Many countries use them, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Britain, and Ukraine. Each costs about $250,000. Smaller and bigger drones now exist, but the Puma is still popular for jobs that need quick, lightweight, easy-to-use eyes in the sky.

Fun Facts

  • A soldier can launch the Puma by simply throwing it like a paper airplane.
  • The Puma weighs only 13 pounds, light enough to carry in a backpack.
  • It flies for over 2.5 hours on a single battery charge.
  • Over 3,500 Pumas have been built since 2008.
  • Ukraine uses Pumas to spot Russian tanks and troops since 2022.
  • Each Puma costs about $250,000, less than a small new car.
  • The Puma can land in water, snow, or sand without breaking.

Kids’ Questions

Why hand-launch?

Small drones like the Puma cannot take off from runways (they have no wheels or runway). Instead, the operator holds the Puma over their head and throws it. The electric motor starts up and the propeller pulls the drone forward and up into the sky. This way, soldiers can launch a Puma anywhere, even on a mountain or in a city.

How does it land?

The Puma has no landing gear. To land, the operator flies it back over a safe spot (water, snow, soft ground) and brings it down gently. The drone slides to a stop on its belly, which has special bumpers to protect the cameras. Operators try to avoid hard surfaces because rocks and concrete can damage the drone.

How does it stay in the air so long?

The Puma has an electric motor and a battery, so it is very fuel-efficient. The battery is the heaviest part of the drone. By using a powerful battery and a light motor, the Puma can fly for over 2.5 hours on a single charge. To fly longer, operators bring spare batteries and swap them between flights.

Variants

RQ-20A Puma (initial)
Original 2008 production variant with 5,000+ delivered. Backbone of squad-level UAV reconnaissance for U.S. and allied infantry, Marine Corps and Special Operations units.
RQ-20B Puma 3 AE (mid-life)
Improved 2014 variant with 9-hour endurance on the extended battery, upgraded sensors and a refreshed data-link. 3,000+ delivered, and the principal production variant in current manufacture.
Puma LE (Long Endurance)
Long-endurance variant fitted with an extended-range fuel cell for 16-hour endurance. Limited adoption, with most customers preferring the standard Puma 3 AE configuration.
Puma AE 3 (export, current)
Latest production variant from 2018 onward. Modular payload bay supporting alternative sensor configurations, improved autonomy software and expanded data-link compatibility. Currently produced for U.S. and allied customers.

Notable Operators

U.S. Army / U.S. Marine Corps
Primary U.S. operators with 3,000+ RQ-20 in inventory. In service with U.S. Army Brigade Combat Teams, Marine Expeditionary Units, and U.S. Special Operations Command — forward-deployed worldwide.
Foreign / partner operators (~25 nations)
United Kingdom (150+), Australia (200+), Canada (100+), France (50), Germany (50), Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Czech Republic, among others. The RQ-20 is one of the most widely exported hand-launched UAVs in service.
Ukraine (combat-deployed)
The U.S. delivered 30+ RQ-20 to Ukraine in 2022 under military assistance packages. Ukrainian forces have used Puma extensively for ISR against Russian positions, particularly along the front line in the Donbas region — combat use that has reaffirmed the value of hand-launched UAVs in peer-level conflict.
Civil / commercial operators
U.S. and international civilian users fly Puma-derivative platforms for border patrol, fisheries enforcement, search and rescue, and scientific research. Several civilian variants are produced by AeroVironment and partner integrators.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Puma launched?

By hand — the operator throws the airframe forward into flight. The electric motor activates as the Puma leaves the operator's hand, the aircraft accelerates to flying speed, and it climbs to working altitude (typically 200-500 ft AGL) within seconds. Hand launch is one of the Puma's principal advantages: no runway, no launcher, and no specialised infrastructure. A single soldier can carry the disassembled aircraft in a backpack, and the system can be unpacked, assembled and launched in 5 minutes.

How long can the Puma stay airborne?

2.5 hours on the standard battery, or 9+ hours on the extended battery fitted to the Puma 3 AE and Puma LE. Working altitude reaches 10,500 ft and cruise speed runs 25-30 mph. That endurance supports sustained surveillance of an area of interest — most missions are 60-90 minutes airborne, providing real-time situational awareness to the launching unit. The 9-hour configuration is particularly valuable for special-operations and counter-terrorism missions where prolonged ISR is required.

How is the Puma recovered?

By deep-stall landing — the operator commands the aircraft into a controlled stall, descending nose-up to a near-vertical impact with the surface. The airframe is built to absorb the landing impact without structural damage. Recovery surfaces include ground (grass, sand, snow) or water, since the Puma is buoyant. Deep-stall recovery removes the need for any runway or net infrastructure, mirroring the hand-launch concept. Crews typically have the aircraft packed up within 3 minutes of touchdown.

How does Puma compare to RQ-11 Raven?

Both are AeroVironment hand-launched UAVs, but at different size classes. The RQ-11 Raven is smaller — 4.4 ft long, 4.5 ft wingspan, 4 lb weight, 1.5-hour endurance, and ground-launch only. The RQ-20 Puma is larger at 4.6 ft long with a 9.2 ft wingspan, 13.5 lb weight, 2.5-9 hour endurance, and hand-launchable to and from ground or water. Raven is the U.S. military's cheaper micro-class drone; Puma is the larger, longer-ranged counterpart. Many units field both — Raven for short-range routine reconnaissance, Puma for longer-range and longer-endurance work.

What does the Puma cost?

Roughly $250-300K USD per complete system, comprising one airframe, the ground control station and initial spares. Per-airframe cost runs $130-150K USD. Total Puma programme value across U.S. and export procurement is around $1.5B USD over the platform's 18+ year service life. Affordability is a principal driver of the Puma's widespread adoption, particularly among allied nations and civil operators for whom higher-cost UAVs are out of reach.

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