The Netherlands is upgrading its Puma All Environment (AE) small unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and procuring larger Puma Long Endurance (LE) UAS, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 19 March. The contract was signed with US company AeroVironment in Utrecht, the Netherlands, earlier the same day.
Dutch Puma AE block II UASs will be upgraded to block III standard, which the MoD said can operate in areas in which global navigation satellite services are denied. Other capabilities will be improved and the UAS will receive a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) kit. There will also be a larger version of the Puma; the Puma LE. This can stay in the air longer.
Renewed Drones Widely Applicable
The new drones have been developed with the most modern technologies. This made possible, among other things, the knowledge and experience gained during the war in Ukraine. With such knowledge, the drones remain up-to-date and suitable for the rapidly changing environment of military operations.
The Puma is mainly used for reconnaissance tasks. The mini-UAS are important for obtaining detailed and up-to-date information during military operations. They help to improve situational awareness (SA) by monitoring large areas. In addition, they signal dangerous situations at an early stage, such as roadblocks or suspicious vehicles. In addition to military applications, the drones can also be used for civil purposes.
The renewed Pumas can be deployed in various situations. For example from vehicles such as the Fennek or by the soldier himself when he is on foot. It is important that every reconnaissance unit has a mini-UAS during operations.
Modernization and Improved Effectiveness of the Army
The renewal of the Puma drones is part of a broader plan of the army. This should lead to an expansion of the capacity of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This year, the first renewed systems will be introduced at group and platoon level. The capacity for companies will probably follow in 2026. The project contributes to the modernization and improved effectiveness of the army.
Source: Netherlands Ministry of Defence