Israeli, Estonian Firms Develop Unmanned Vehicles-Mounted Loitering Munition Launcher

UVision Air, an Israeli manufacturer of Loitering Munitions and Estonian Milrem Robotics which makes unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) have joined forces to mount a Loitering Munition Multi-Canister Launcher on the latter’s UGVs

The new operational concept is designed to offer a new independent ability to locate, track and accurately eliminate heavily armored targets from large distances. It provides light forces with ISR capabilities combined with highly accurate long-range heavy fire power that were achieved until now only with complex cooperation between several units and echelons.

The Launcher can be equipped with two of UVision’s Loitering Munition Systems: The Hero-120, with its anti-tank warhead and up to one hour of flight time, and the Hero-400EC, capable of destroying fortified targets, with up to two operational hours. Milrem’s Type-X UGV will also be equipped with a 40 km range communication antenna, located on a telescopic rising mast, improving the operator's control of the system.

Milrem robotics' UGV flagship, THeMIS, is designed for operation by dismounted infantry and Special Forces. Able to carry up to six of UVision’s Loitering Munition systems, it will provide the forces with long-range ISR and firepower combination that will now be available to them for the first time.  The THeMIS recently completed a full 12-month deployment to an international military operation in Mali, and has already been delivered to a several NATO countries (including Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and USA).

UVision’s Hero-120 and Hero-400EC loitering munitions:

can carry out pinpoint lethal strikes against mid-range hard targets ‒ vehicles, tanks, concrete fortifications and personnel ‒ in populated urban areas or remote locations with minimal collateral damage.

Their extended endurance of over an hour (Hero-120), and up to 2 Hours (Hero-400EC), and their loitering range of 40km (Hero-120) and up to 150km (Hero-400), allow these systems to be independently operated by frontline forces, precisely striking time-sensitive targets from a wide variety of angles. Featuring low acoustic and low visual and thermal signatures, stabilized day/night tracking, both systems combine real-time intelligence with high-precision attack to allow a whole new range of operational possibilities.

Milrem Robotics Type-X and THeMIS:

The Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) can be equipped with a main armament of 30 up to 50 mm automatic cannon. It is a rapidly deployable and dependable unit, able to autonomously navigate the battlefield and perform tasks, keeping the operator in the loop with real-time Situational Awareness.

The THeMIS is the first hybrid fully modular unmanned ground vehicle in the world. The vehicle is intended to provide support for dismounted troops by serving as a transport platform, remote weapon station, IED detection and disposal unit, and much more. The vehicle’s open architecture gives it the multi-missions capability much needed on the modern battlefield.