Israeli, German manufacturers to supply hundreds of suicide drones to NATO

Rheinmetall has won a contract by NATO customers to supply several hundred HERO Loitering Munition systems, also known as suicide drones.

The ordered HERO systems will be equipped with the latest generation of high-performance anti-tank warheads developed by Rheinmetall.

The announcement said that several NATO customers in Europe have placed orders, without specifying which countries.

UVision and Rheinmetall entered into a partnership in October 2021 to deliver LM systems in Europe. As part of the agreement, Rheinmetall would lead the industrial, technological, and commercial aspects, while UVision would supply the munitions.

The Hero family of LMs are specifically designed to provide front-line forces (including Special Forces) with long-range independent fire capability. With advanced datalink and real-time intelligence for situational awareness, the remote operator is able to maintain ‘eyes’ on the target even at far distances, allowing for accurate strike capabilities in complex operational environments. The operator can maneuver the drone or abort the mission if necessary.

The system can carry out missions from start to finish or be transferred to ground forces to increase the efficiency of the troops.

The HERO 120 offers tactical units a lightweight, high-precision loitering munition capable of engaging targets in complex environments. It is designed to deliver real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities alongside lethal strike options. Its modular payload, jam-resistant navigation, and low acoustic signature make it ideal for both conventional and asymmetric warfare.

The company also has the Hero 400 for medium-to-long range strikes on fortified positions. The Hero 1250 carries a 50 kilogram warhead, has a range of more than 200 kilometers and an operation duration of up to 10 hours.

At the beginning of the month Rheinmetall announced that it would be significantly ramping up its capacity to produce loitering munitions (LMs) following the completion of RWM Italia’s modern production facility for assembly, testing and warhead production and integration of the LMs.

RWM’s facility manufactures Hero 30, Hero 120, and Hero 400 systems.

“In recent years, drones and Loitering Munitions have become increasingly important in modern warfare. Rheinmetall has responded to this development, both in terms of the deployment of these modern weapons as well as the defense against them,” said a press release by the company.

The German defense giant’s extensive cooperation with UVision has already produced impressive products, including a launcher in a shipping container with a capacity for 126 Hero LMs, enabling swarm attacks against targets.

Earlier in the week, UVision announced that it had acquired the Israeli drone startup SpearUAV.

SpearUAV’s Viper LM is stored in sealed canisters and can be deployed by infantry, vehicles, naval vessels and even launched like a munition from submarines. The Viper line complements UVision’s Hero family, creating a comprehensive LM portfolio for a range of missions across combat environments.

“We have full confidence in SpearUAV’s advanced capabilities and the operational value of its technologies,” said Dr. Ran Gozali, CEO of UVision in the announcement of the acquisition. “Both companies have worked for years toward a shared vision, and together we now provide unified, holistic solutions for modern militaries- from maneuvering battalions and underwater platforms to brigade‑level systems across multiple domains.”

Alongside this acquisition, UVision said that it recently moved into a new facility with advanced production, R&D, and testing infrastructure. This expansion, combined with the integration of the two companies, will allow it “to develop next‑generation capabilities and deliver wide‑impact operational solutions.”