Denmark has purchased AeroVironment's Puma All Environment (AE) small unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to equip its army. The announcement follows the announcement of neighboring Sweden's purchase of the same system.

The $9.6 million contract was won after competition with a similar system, the Elbit Skylark. Details of the contract, including the number of aircraft, ground stations and the value of additional services such as training, were not immediately available.

The Puma, a hand-launched tactical UAV, has been sold to 19 nations, including the United States and several European nations. The aircraft has a 2h endurance and carries a single electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera.

"Allied armed forces are procuring our small unmanned aircraft systems to give small tactical teams the ability to operate more effectively and safely, without requiring support from more expensive, scarcer resources," says Roy Minson, senior vice president and general manager of AeroVironment's unmanned aircraft systems division.

AeroVironment was unavailable to answer immediate questions.

 Puma AE - AeroVironment

 ©AeroVironment

Source: Flight International