The U.S. Navy has deployed AeroVironment's RQ-20B Puma All Environment drone with a precision recovery system on a guided missile destroyer, the company announced Thursday. Pictured, a Marine launching a Puma drone in Afghanistan in 2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Bobby Yarbrough

MONROVIA, Calif., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has deployed AeroVironment's RQ-20B Puma All Environment drone with a precision recovery system on a guided-missile destroyer, the company announced Thursday.

The recovery system enables the Puma to operate from a variety of vessels for rapid response reconnaissance, AeroVironment said in a statement.


Hand-launched from the ship, the Puma autonomously glides itself into a net on the flight deck after the mission.

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data stream directly into the ship's command and control system, as well as the Navy's communication network.

The Puma is also designed to land and float in water, the company said, meaning operators can choose to recover it from the sea if needed.

The drone can be managed and operated by a ship's crew and does not require external contractors.