Enhances Capabilities In Contested Environments

AeroVironment (AV) announced Project Gold, a new suite of software updates to its Puma 3 AE and Puma LE uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) that enhance their battlefield effectiveness in contested environments.

The updates strengthen the UAS to maintain reliable navigation and mission performance even when GNSS and communications signals are unreliable, unavailable, or being jammed. The upgraded software ensures that Puma can continue to carry out mission-critical tasks autonomously and securely while reducing its reliance on GPS and enhancing survivability in hostile environments.

In addition to advanced navigation and timing in GNSS-denied environments, the software provides greater visual navigation capability using Puma’s existing system with end-to-end GNSS-denied operation and an added layer of GNSS spoofing detection and rejection.

The software contains enhanced security features that ensure robust communications in contested environments, and also increase Puma’s payload capacity to 6.5 pounds of total payload for advanced multi-mission support.

Trace Stevenson, AV’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of Uncrewed Systems said, “With these software enhancements, we’re reinforcing the adaptability and resilience of our Puma Systems for the most demanding battlefield conditions. These capabilities allow warfighters to maintain operational superiority, even when adversaries attempt to disrupt critical systems, ensuring greater mission success and survivability.”

The new capabilities are delivered via software updates and do not require any hardware modifications, offering a cost-effective and rapid upgrade for fleets already deployed in the field.

FMI:  www.avinc.com/