Autor fotografie: IAI, Public domain|Popisek: HAROP
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have realized the critical importance of loitering weapon systems and are now planning to put these systems on the Merkava 4 main battle tank and on maritime platforms.
Loitering weapon systems, that until some years ago were conceived as a "nice to have" combat tool, are now main killer systems with very advanced capabilities. And without any doubt, Israel has taken this segment of combat systems some big steps ahead. While some of the systems are classified, the unclassified systems tell the story very well. Loitering weapons system are in big, very big demand and the Israeli defence industries are working hard to answer that demand.
The Harop loitering weapon system
It can be said without any doubt, that the "big leap" started some years ago. Until that time the only operational loitering weapon system made in Israel was the Harop, developed by Israel aerospace industries (IAI). This loitering weapon system was very active in the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan used the Harop. The Harop has been developed to destroy high quality targets. It consists of the munitions unit, transportable launcher and a mission control shelter, which provides real-time access to control the Harop by a man-in-the-loop.
The Harop can be launched from various transportable platforms including sea and ground based canisters or air launched to navigate towards the potential target area. It can be launched at any angle, horizontal or at a vertical trajectory. The sealed container ensures protection from harsh battlefield conditions. The Harop is armed with a 16 kg warhead and is equipped with a very advanced day/night payload (POP-250) made by the Tamam division of IAI. Harop has an operational range of 6230 miles and an endurance of six hours.
The Mini Harpy – based on the Harpy and the Harop
The Harop is big and heavy and built to destroy big heavy targets. But when a trend begins, sizes get diversified and that is exactly what is happening. Some years ago, IAI unveiled the Mini Harpy, based on two older systems the Harpy and the Harop. According to a very senior IAI official the Mini Harpy is designed to neutralize radiation emitting threats such as radars and additional systems. He added that the Mini Harpy has a dual sensor – EO and Electromagnetic.
When it was clear that there is a big market for loitering weapon systems, other Israel companies joined the effort. Some years ago, identifying the big potential U.S market Israeli company Uvision formed a U.S. subsidiary, Uvision US, that has already secured some contracts with U.S. armed forces. The first version offered to the Americans was the Hero-30. The current version of the Hero-30 weapon system, weighs 6.5 pounds armed with a 1pound warhead. It is and carried in a canister that is used also as a pneumatic launcher. After launch the electric motor is turned on.
The HEROs
The HERO-30 is equipped with a day/night sensor and has an endurance of 30 minutes. After the HERO-30 is launched it locks on the predesigned target and transmits the video to the operator using a hand held unit. The HERO-30 is loitering in altitudes between 980 and 2000 feet above the ground. The data link that was developed for the system can control it in ranges of 6 or 24 miles, depending on the antenna used. The company says that the demand for small loitering munitions systems has increased in recent years mainly due to the operational lessons from the war against the international terror.
The U.S market was hungry for the very advanced Israeli loitering weapon systems and in May 2021, the company was awarded a multi-year contract, to supply the Hero-120 OPF-M systems to the United States Marine Corps (USMC), together with its multi-canister launcher, tailored to the specific requirements of the USMC and integrated onto armored vehicles and maritime platforms.
.jpg "Uvision, Public domain")
The Hero-120 is a mid-range, anti-armor, beyond-line-of-sight weapon system which meets the complex requirements of modern battlefield challenges. The high-precision, smart loitering munition system has a unique aerodynamic structure that carries out pinpoint strikes against anti-armor, anti-material and anti-personnel targets, including MBTs, vehicles, concrete fortifications, and other soft targets in populated urban areas, while ensuring minimal collateral damage. According to the company its wide range of multi-purpose warheads enable the operational user to effectively engage all targets. That is the trend, and Israeli sources say it already created an effort to develop more such systems.
Some are in a very advanced stage of development while others are only on the computer screens. But there is no doubt that the variety of loitering weapon systems is about to grow dramatically in the near future. This effort has resulted in new systems – last year Uvision has unveiled its new loitering weapons system, the Hero-400 EC. The larger system has a unique cruciform aerodynamic design which according to the Israeli company delivers high-accuracy and reduces collateral damage. Uvision says that the Hero-400 EC's electric motor enables it to loiter silently above a target, ready to instantly respond to pop-up threats.
According to the company, the system was developed to answer a growing operational requirement for a loitering weapons system that can remain in the air for extended periods of time, provide a substantial warhead effective against a wide variety of targets, and also deliver missile-level pinpoint strike capabilities. "The Hero-400EC answers these critical needs,” the company source said. Uvision has also developed the Hero-120, which can be fitted with a range of powerful multi-purpose warheads. Its unique aerodynamic structure enables pinpoint strikes in populated urban areas or remote locations with minimal collateral damage. Its extended endurance of over an hour and its loitering range of up to 24 miles, enable independent operation by frontline forces, with precision strikes of time-sensitive targets.
The Orbiter 1K
Featuring low acoustic, visual and thermal signatures and fully gimbaled and stabilized day/night tracking, the Hero-120 delivers critical situational awareness with its advanced data link and real-time intelligence. Recoverable using a parachute, the system is also cost-effective. Aeronautics, the Israel UAV manufacturer has also joined the development effort and some years ago unveiled its new loitering weapon system, the Orbiter 1K. The Orbiter 1K is based on the structure and properties of the company's Orbiter 2. This is the first time Aeronautics is developing a Loitering system. According to the Israeli company the Orbiter 1K is launched from a catapult, and can fly for 2-3 hours, carrying a multi-sensor camera with day-and-night channels.
The loitering system is compact and easily controlled from a personal GCS. Aeronautics says that given a specific waypoint, the loitering Orbiter 1K can detect and destroy a moving or a stationary target. The system can also operate on the base of a given area range: the Orbiter 1K independently scans the area, detects and destroys the target – moving or stationary. In case the target wasn’t detected or in any change of plans, the system’s recovery capability allows it to return to its base camp and land safely using a parachute and an airbag. According to the Israeli company, the Orbiter 1K is launched from a catapult, and can fly for 2-3 hours, carrying a multi-sensor camera with day-and-night channels. The loitering system is compact and easily controlled from a personal GCS.
It is clear that the demand for loitering weapon systems is growing fast and that we will see these advanced weapons systems on new platforms.
By ARIE EGOZI