Loitering Ammunition Development Trends
An Israeli Harop UAV takes off from an offshore platform. IAI Graphics
In recent years, there has been increased attention to the direction of the so-called. loitering ammunition. A large number of new samples of this class are being developed, they enter the market and fight for contracts. Some of these samples have already managed to take part in real conflicts. In general, we are already talking about the formation of a full-fledged industry with its own characteristics, rules and trends.
Way to success
The first loitering ammunition was created in Israel in the second half of the eighties. In the future, other countries tried to develop this concept, which led to the emergence of several new projects. However, for a long time the concept drone-kamikaze did not receive much support and practically did not develop.
The situation has begun to change only in recent years. Ammunition of several types have found application in local conflicts and have shown a fairly high efficiency. Similar successes of existing products naturally attracted attention. Gradually, this led to the launch of a host of new projects, and some of these UAVs were later put into service.
At the moment, loitering ammunition is officially in service with almost a dozen countries of the world. There are dozens of products with different characteristics and capabilities developed by different countries on the arms market. At the same time, new projects are announced with enviable regularity and new projects appear. news on the signing of supply contracts.
Upgraded device Harpy NG. IAI Graphics
In addition, the delivered products are used for real purposes during local conflicts. This again draws attention to the topic and advertises both specific samples and the entire direction. Also, the reputation of the concept is positively affected by interest from developed countries with powerful armies.
As a result, the industry is constantly growing in quantity and quality. Now the size and volume of the industry and the market already allow not only to consider individual samples or families. It becomes possible to search and study general development trends.
Reasons for interest
The reasons for the interest in loitering ammunition are quite simple. They combine the strengths of several classes of equipment and weapons at once. This allows you to get high combat qualities in general and provide advantages over other models. However, the combination of different features and functions can impose limitations, but the competent use of UAVs can minimize their impact.
Products of the UVision Hero family. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
A characteristic feature of loitering ammunition is its lower cost in comparison with other means of destruction. They are much cheaper than land-based and air-based guided weapons with comparable accuracy. The cost of an UAV and a guided artillery shell is comparable, but the use of the latter requires additional reconnaissance equipment. The kamikaze drone itself solves such problems.
The use of loitering ammunition dramatically speeds up and simplifies the search for and defeat of targets. Such a product should conduct patrols in a given area and has the ability to immediately hit the found object. Accordingly, no time is wasted transferring data to other weapons and organizing a strike.
However, most of these UAVs have characteristic shortcomings. This is a limited flight range, inferior to other strike weapons, a small warhead mass, etc. Due to this, loitering ammunition cannot fully replace the entire range of weapons, although it takes its place above the battlefield.
Development trends
Ammunitions of various sizes and weights with the corresponding power are currently on the market. Products have been created and are being offered from ultralight quadrocopters with a low-powered warhead to large UAVs carrying tens of kilograms of explosives. In most cases, such devices are carried out according to an aircraft scheme or resemble a cruise missile. Helicopter-type equipment, with all its advantages, has a limited distribution.
Russian apparatus from the Lancet line. Zala Aero Photos
It is curious that the heavy category is not of particular interest and is represented by only a few samples. First of all, these are Harpy and Harop products from the Israeli company IAI. With a wingspan of more than 2 m and a mass of at least 120-130 kg, they carry warheads up to 32 kg. This technique has shown its capabilities in real conflicts, but the complexity of operation has also manifested itself.
Probably, the lack of noticeable progress in the heavy class is connected with the latter. The bulk of modern ammunition are light and medium. They have the optimal combination of technical, combat and operational parameters.
Combat use, testing and market research have shown that UAVs weighing up to 12-15 kg with a payload of no more than 3-5 kg are of the greatest interest to customers. In addition, it makes sense to create unified families that include several products with different characteristics. Israeli devices of the UVision Hero family or the Russian Zala "Lancet" can be considered as an example of such trends.
Loitering ammunition does not need outstanding flight performance. In most cases, the maximum flight speed does not exceed 100-120 km / h. At the same time, emphasis is placed on the duration of the flight, which is usually 30-40 minutes. A favorable combination of flight characteristics and weight is achieved through the use of electric propulsion systems.
Light loitering ammunition "Kub-BLA" with satellite guidance. Zala Aero Photos
In theory, loitering ammunition can carry various types of reconnaissance and detection equipment. However, by now, an optical-electronic unit with a day and night channel has become the standard solution. Such equipment is characterized by compactness, lightness and relative simplicity, which reduces the requirements for the carrier. At the same time, the optics allow the operator to observe the terrain, find the target and point the UAV at it. Managing the apparatus by the operator greatly simplifies the complex as a whole.
However, there are other solutions as well. So, the Israeli product Harpy had an autopilot that flew according to a given program, and a passive radar seeker. The later Harop used optics and radar. Modern ammunition from the Russian company Zala Aero and some foreign developments, in addition to optics, use satellite navigation and can attack targets with known coordinates.
Various types of launchers are being developed as part of strike unmanned systems. Rail launchers or transport-launch containers are mainly used. In the case of light and medium complexes, such products are portable or transportable. The largest UAVs have to be used with self-propelled chassis of the appropriate carrying capacity, and whole batteries from TPK can be placed on one chassis. So, the Taiwanese complex "Jiang Xian" includes a semi-trailer with a launcher for 12 drones.
Separately, it is necessary to consider the "direction" of loitering munitions of handicraft production. In local conflicts, the simplest products made from commercial UAVs or components are used. Such drones are most often equipped with a warhead in the form of ready-made bulk ammunition of suitable size and weight. The reliability and efficiency of such UAVs are usually low, but the low cost and ease of manufacture fully compensate for all the shortcomings.
Taiwanese complex "Jian Xiang". in the background is a launcher. Photo Taiwan Public Television Service
Development continues
Thus, the development of loitering ammunition has already led to the formation of the optimal appearance of such a complex. It combines the most favorable performance characteristics and a fairly high commercial potential. However, some samples do not fit into these trends and still show noticeable results.
The "average" modern kamikaze drone is a compact product weighing no more than 15 kg with a high-explosive warhead of several kilograms, an electric motor and optoelectronic reconnaissance equipment. Such a UAV, launch and control facilities can be carried by crew or transported by any transport. This appearance of the complex has been repeatedly tested by tests and real operations.
Apparently, most of the new loitering ammunition projects will now be built according to this concept, with some changes or innovations. However, the search for alternative solutions will continue, incl. within other classes of technology. This will certainly lead to the appearance of original UAVs and their unusual carriers.
The future of loitering ammunition is obvious. This direction will be further developed, as a result of which new samples of various kinds will regularly appear. They should also be expected to be put into service, and the list of operators will also be constantly growing. It is not known when such growth processes will stop for objective reasons. But this should not be expected in the coming years.
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