The Salvadoran military has expanded its surveillance capabilities by adding four AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The Salvadoran Ministry of Defense officially announced this acquisition.
The Salvadoran Defense Minister, Vice Admiral René Merino, during the handover, stated: “We are equipping the Task Force Sumpul, the Tridente Naval Task Force, and the Special Anti-Terrorist Command with four Puma UAVs, protective gear, and accessories for the M-4 rifle.” The minister also emphasized that these UAVs would greatly enhance El Salvador’s capabilities in the fight against drug trafficking and criminal gangs.
The RQ-20 Puma, a product of the American manufacturer AeroVironment, is a compact, battery-operated, manually launched unmanned aircraft system. Its primary functions include surveillance and intelligence gathering, facilitated by an electro-optical and infrared camera. One of its notable features is its ability to be launched from a ship, making it suitable for maritime applications. The Puma AE comes with a gimbaled payload that offers a 360-degree continuous pan and a tilt range of +10 to -90 degrees.
Each RQ-20 system comprises three aerial vehicles and two ground stations. The Puma UAV is designed to operate in extreme weather conditions, enduring temperatures ranging from -29 to 49 °C and wind speeds up to 25 knots (46 km/h). He has a flight endurance of over 3 hours, with options for smart batteries to support various mission profiles, a powerful and efficient propulsion system, and a reinforced fuselage for improved durability.