In the United States, the Hatchet kamikaze drone, launched from a heavy strike drone, was tested
Northrop Grumman in the United States tested the Hatchet loitering ammunition launched from a heavy strike drone MQ-1C Gray Eagle. The tests, which are currently completed, lasted a total of about six months.
This is reported by the American edition of The Defense Post.
The last stage of ammunition testing was carried out last fall. They confirmed its combat capabilities and compatibility with carrier systems. This means that the next step should be the delivery of Hatchet to the US Armed Forces and their combat deployment.
Northrop spokesman Joe Esler confirmed.
Such drones-kamikaze can be called miniature, because their weight does not reach even three kilograms. At the same time, the accuracy of hitting a target with a barrage of air-based ammunition is less than one meter. This is facilitated by the use of several guidance systems in the design of the product, including infrared and electron-optical.
In the future, heavy attack drones MQ-1C Gray Eagl will be equipped with such ammunition. Each of them is capable of carrying 12 Hatchet kamikaze drones on board.
At the moment, the Gray Eagle is armed with four Hellfire missiles or eight Stingers.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in one of his statements, said that the domestic defense industry should pay special attention to the development of loitering ammunition and high-precision weapons.
- Sergey Kuzmitsky
- Northrop Grumman
Information