Argentina to Acquire 'Hero' Loitering Munitions From Israel

Argentina’s defense ministry has agreed to buy HERO-120 and HERO-30 loitering munitions produced by Israel’s UVision.

On December 27, Argentina’s defense minister Jorge Taiana signed a contract with the head of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate of the Israel Ministry of Defense, Yair Kulas, for the purchase of Israeli weapons.

This acquisition is part of the presentation of the Military Strategic Directive, a regulation that establishes the short, medium and long-term plans for the next Military Capabilities Plan.

Loitering munitions are a type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed primarily to engage ground targets beyond line of sight. They have electro-optical sensors, which allows them to fulfill a dual role, as surveillance, reconnaissance and target identifier platforms with real-time data and video transmission and as an explosive-charged projectile.

For the Argentine military, loitering munitions are being acquired to target light vehicles or Command Posts, armored vehicles, bunkers, anti-aircraft artillery and radars that have a greater explosive charge, more range and loitering time (autonomy).

Along with this purchase, the inert loitering ammunition is incorporated, which is the same ammunition but without an explosive charge, which allows it to incorporate more batteries to give it greater loitering autonomy to specifically fulfill observation and surveillance functions or for personnel training, since that it is recoverable and reusable.

This first purchase will make it possible to evaluate the ammunition mainly with the elements of the special operations forces, airmobile elements, elements of the Marine Infantry, exploration elements and for the field artillery, who based on their experiences will give the go-ahead or not to increase its acquisition.