German Navy has acquired the AeroVironment RQ-20B Puma maritime unmanned aircraft system, the company announced on 7 May. The Puma systems will include the Mantis i45 sensor and pocket Remote Video Terminal.

Designed as an intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting platform, the RQ-20B has a wingspan of 2,8 metres and weighs 6,3 kg. An optional underwing transit bay easily integrates third-party payloads such as communication relay, geo-location, or laser marker to meet the diverse needs of military applications. Having an endurance of more than 3 hours, the UAV's Mantis i45 system supports an advanced suite of sensors, including ultra-high-resolution EO and IR imagers. Puma can land in water, float until recovered and continue immediate operations.

The Mantis i45 sensor reduces the likelihood of detection by increasing the distance between the Puma AE and areas of interest while still providing the clarity and image quality of a close-range asset.