Puma LE upgraded with laser target designator

AeroVironment (AV) has announced an interesting upgrade to its Puma LE small unmanned aircraft system, integrating a laser target designator payload and a Universal Gimbal Kit to enhance the drone’s multi-mission capabilities. The development, announced on 30 September 2025, effectively transforms the Puma LE from a simple intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tool into a frontline precision targeting platform.

The new features allow operators to quickly transition from gathering information to designating targets for precision-guided munitions using a compact, man-portable Group 2 drone, the press release states. It is worth noting that Russia’s equivalents, the Orlan-30 and Zala-421-16E, are catapult-launched, making them less flexible. 

Trace Stevenson, president of Autonomous Systems at AV, highlighted the tactical shift this represents. “Operators can now seamlessly transition from reconnaissance to precision target designation using the same lightweight, man-portable system – a capability previously reserved for larger, more complex platforms.”

The core of the upgrade is the integration of Trillium Engineering’s HD59 Laser Target Designator payload. This lightweight electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) gimbal system weighs just 2kg but is compliant with NATO’s STANAG 3733 standard, meaning it can accurately ‘paint’ a target for guided weapons used by NATO forces.

The system features a multi-sensor array, including an EO camera, mid-wave infrared (MWIR), long-wave infrared (LWIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensors. This setup allows for all-weather, day-and-night long-range identification and designation, accelerating the military’s ‘find, fix, and finish’ timeline and greatly improving mission autonomy for small, dismounted units.

Furthering its versatility, the new Universal Gimbal Kit allows ground forces to rapidly swap out payloads in the field, enabling quick configuration changes to meet evolving tactical needs without the requirement for specialist depot support, AV states in the press release.

AeroVironment has been a key supplier of drone technology to the US Army and its partners, a relationship that has strengthened significantly over recent years:

• February 2025: AV secured its third major US Army contract in 12 months to supply Switchblade tactical missile systems, cementing its role in providing lethality to small units.
• August 2025: The US Army placed a large order for AV’s P550 drones, a reconnaissance system that was ordered as a key component of the “Transformation in Contact 2.0 (TiC)” initiative. This programme aims to enhance the capabilities of US Army units, particularly at the battalion level, by providing them with organic, cutting-edge technology to improve tactical superiority and situational awareness on the battlefield.

Tech Profile: Puma LE

The Puma LE (Long Endurance) is a small, rugged, man-portable fixed-wing UAS designed primarily for reconnaissance and surveillance. 

Calibre comment

Laser target designation is used for a lot of guided air-launched munitions, but it also has a lot of value in guiding artillery rounds. There can be restrictions and limitations depending on the weather conditions, but generally speaking it is more resilient to jamming than a GPS-guided round. There are systems designed to alert operators to the presence of a laser designator, such as those provided by the UK company Sentinel, and Ukraine is known to have used laser warning receivers for this purpose. If the upgraded Puma LE is accepted into service with the US and its partners, along with suites of laser guided munitions, it could improve the ability of artillery units to strike a target with precision. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on October 2, 2025. The lead image shows a US Marine with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division launching an RQ-20B PUMA in 2025. Credit: US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter.