US Army Funds Loitering Munition After Successful Test Flights
- Army has increased funding for the Hero 120, an Israeli-designed suicide drone capable of orbiting a battlefield for one hour and aborting strikes mid-flight.
- The Hero 120 is a loitering munition, a class of weapon that combines the attributes of a drone and a missile by circling a target area before striking.
- The Hero 120 allows operators to maintain visual contact with a target throughout the flight duration.
The U.S. Army has increased funding for the Hero 120, an Israeli-designed suicide drone capable of orbiting a battlefield for one hour and aborting strikes mid-flight.
The procurement involves a partnership between Mistral Inc. and UVision, the Israeli firm that developed the system. The Hero 120 is a loitering munition, a class of weapon that combines the attributes of a drone and a missile by circling a target area before striking.
Hero 120 Technical Capabilities and Operational Use
The Hero 120 allows operators to maintain visual contact with a target throughout the flight duration.
A primary feature of the system is the ability to abort a strike. If a target is deemed invalid or if civilians enter the strike zone, the operator can cancel the attack while the drone is in flight, a capability intended to reduce collateral damage.
U.S. Army Testing and Procurement Process
The involvement of Mistral Inc. facilitates the integration of the Israeli-made UVision technology into the U.S.