UVision Air Ltd. and Rheinmetall have signed this week a strategic partnering agreement for loitering munitions. The agreement leverages both companies’ capabilities to provide the European market with precise, combat-proven weapon systems. The Hero family of loitering munitions will be available to European customers to satisfy contemporary and emerging operational requirements.  

Through this partnership, UVision and Rheinmetall will offer end-to-end solutions for loitering munitions to the armed forces of Europe. Rheinmetall will take the industrial, technological and commercial lead for enhancing the capabilities of the weapon system; UVision will make available the Hero loitering munitions, based on in-depth technological expertise and operational experience. The parties plan to integrate the combat-proven Hero series into Rheinmetall’s portfolio of manned and unmanned vehicle platforms, launchers, battle management systems and armoured vehicles like the Lynx.  

The Hero family of loitering munitions comprises several models. Designed for different missions,  from short to medium and long ranges and flight  times using various warheads, the Hero series of  high-precision loitering munitions provides  operational forces with combined intelligence,  surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and strike capabilities, allowing them to independently locate, track and engage time-sensitive, low-signature targets. These advanced munitions can loiter in the air in a clandestine manner for an extended period of time; locate and track the enemy; help to validate targets; and carry out a precise strike. The Hero system can abort an attack in mid-air; re-enter loitering mode; and then resume the attack, or re-assign targets, thus minimizing collateral damage and providing operational forces with unsurpassed tactical flexibility on the modern battlefield.

“Entering the market for loitering munitions is an important strategic step for us”, notes Dr Alexander Sagel, head of Rheinmetall’s Division Weapon and Ammunition. “In doing so, we are systematically pivoting to meet changing customer requirements and growing market demand. We aspire to provide our customers with high-tech solutions. Together with UVision, we will be offering products made in Europe for the European market to address growing European demand. With this partnership we aim to occupy the leading position in Europe. Building on our mutually reinforcing capabilities, we will also establish a strong foundation for developing new products together.”

Major General (ret) Avi Mizrachi, UVision’s CEO, adds: “Teaming up with Rheinmetall is a major step for UVision, which is meant to provide our operational customers with the advanced even greater technological advantages, along with European quick support and training abilities. By adding and integrating our Loitering Munitions to Rheinmetall’s vast portfolio of munitions, warheads, combat platforms and battle-management systems already in use by leading military forces, we can now offer many of European allied forces much broader and more complete solutions to their Defense needs”.

www.rheinmetall.com

www.uvisionuav.com

www.uvisionusa.com

Arnold Defense, the St. Louis based manufacturer of 2.75-inch rocket launchers, will have a number of variants of their world-renowned rocket launchers on display at this year’s Association of the United States Army (AUSA) exhibition, taking place 11-13 October 2021, in Washington DC.

Arnold Defense will be showcasing three rocket launcher systems at the event. The LAND-LGR4 ‘FLETCHER’ land-based launcher will be displayed in the Kongsberg booth (2147) mounted on their Protector RWS. The 23-round MLHS will be displayed in the BAE Systems booth (1210/1220) mounted on a ‘common deck’ platform from MSI Defense Solutions. Being shown in public for the first time is a prototype concept demonstrator 3-round air launcher named the “Trident” which can be seen in the Moog booth (7601) mounted on their Lightweight Dual Rail Launcher (DRL). The new Trident launcher is in development, but following a planned future test program, it is expected to deliver the following capability benefits: utilizes existing missile launcher interface for mounting and system control of Laser Guided Rockets (LGRs); significant weight saving over other launcher variants; no software changes to existing Fire Control required; Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) adaptation for digital control of analog rockets (Moog Trident Interface Unit- TIU); common missile interface across multiple platforms for maximum LGR strike capability; each Trident carries up to three (3) LGRs, providing a lethal weapons load of guided rockets.

Arnold Defense is the world’s largest supplier of rocket launchers for military aircraft, vessels and vehicles; they have manufactured more than 1.2 million 2.75-inch (70mm) rocket launchers since 1961 for the U.S. Armed Forces and a number of NATO customers. They design and manufacture rocket launchers that can be customized for any size, weight, capacity, or form factor for platforms in the air, on the ground or at sea.  

Arnold’s core products include the 7-round M260 and 19-round M261 commonly used by U.S. Army helicopters; the thermal coated 7-round LAU-68 variants and LAU-61 Digital Rocket Launcher used by the U.S. Navy; and the 7-round LAU-131 and SUU-25 flare dispenser used by the U.S. Air Force.  For land or sea-based operations, Arnold offers the FLETCHER, a 4-round laser target designated rocket launcher and the MLHS 23-round launcher. Arnold Defense first launched the revolutionary FLETCHER system at DSEi in 2017 and announced a new capability development program for FLETCHER at DSEi in September 2021.

Doug Wallace, President at Arnold Defense said: “We’re pleased to be displaying a number of variants of our air and land-based launchers at AUSA, working in collaboration with our partners BAE Systems, Kongsberg, Moog and MSI Defense Solutions.” He added: “being seen for the first time is our prototype ‘Trident’ 3-round air launcher that is currently in development, aiming to deliver significant capability enhancements to the warfighter”.

www.arnolddefense.com/arnold-defense-announces-next-generation-fletcher-development-program