Israel presents new kamikaze drones PHOTO

UVision, an Israeli developer of air loitering systems, unveiled its new Hero-90, Hero-900 and Hero-1250, as well as SpearUAV's Viper systems at Paris Air Show last week.

UVision developed the HERO-90 in response to requests from customers who expressed a need for an intermediate system between the 3.5 kg HERO-30 and HERO-120. Its weight is halved, 9 kg at launch compared to 18 kg for the HERO-120, and the range and endurance characteristics are slightly reduced, respectively, by 40 km compared to 60 km and 45 minutes compared to one hour, Caliber.Az reports, citing IsraelDefense’s Twitter page.

#UVision Expanding #Loitering #Munition #Portfoliohttps://t.co/LhvNwO8kIG pic.twitter.com/pY8gNpDBmh

— ISRAELDEFENSE (@_israeldefense) June 28, 2023

What's been reduced is the warhead, which is now just over 1.5 kg compared to 4.5 kg for the HERO-120, but the company insists it's more than enough to neutralize main battle tanks, especially when hitting them in top attack mode.

According to UVision, the HERO-90 is at an advanced stage of development, and the new portable HERO, which can be ready to launch in less than two minutes, will allow infantry to carry more ammunition in a given time, with its 12 kg weight.

HERO-1250 has a range of over 200 km and can fly up to 10 hours with a 50 kg warhead weighing over 155 kg, powered by a diesel/hybrid engine. To collect information during a mission, electronic warfare systems can also be installed. Lighter, 110 kg when launched with a 30 kg warhead, HERO-900 has a range of more than 150 km and a flight time of 6 hours, has a similar propulsion system and carries only one E/O pod. Both are launched from the ramp.

At the Paris Air Show, UVision also unveiled the Viper, a personal aviation weapon system for ground forces developed by SpearUAV. 

The "air support" system is for infantrymen, eliminating the need to seek any external support from the Air Force or any special unit.

A soldier can easily carry this light little system (even more than one system). The system is easily operated by a single user, requiring minimal training. Viper can be launched directly from a rugged capsule (launcher). Its AI-based system allows any soldier to easily control it, collect intelligence and attack targets as needed with advanced ATR algorithms. 

Providing a significant air advantage, the Viper's hovering capability allows surveillance of targets in difficult urban environments where a conventional (fixed-wing) aircraft would be ineffective.