IAI shines spotlight on loitering attack drone

PARIS, June 8 (UPI) -- Israel Aerospace Industries is touting its HAROP Loitering Munitions system, a drone that loiters over a target area before selecting and attacking a target.

In demonstrations for potential customers, the demonstrated augmented observation capabilities, flight altitude and loitering, as well as enhanced maneuvering and target destruction, the company said at the Paris Air Show.

"During the exercises, the missile loitered for several hours until the target was selected. Then, with maximum precision, it dived directly on to it," the company said

HAROP is comprised of launchers and a Mission Control Shelter which enables man-in-the-loop missile control. It uses a 33 pound warhead and can be launched from transportable launchers. Once over a target area it can loiter and search for targets for as much as six hours.

"The successful flight demonstrations and operational tests reflect HAROP's reliability and quality, together with its advanced technological capabilities," said Boaz Levi, IAI corporate vice president and general manager of the Systems, Missiles & Space Group. "IAI is a world pioneer in the field of loitering munitions. Products from IAI's line of loitering munitions are based on innovative and technological breakthroughs and upgrade the future combat array that includes unmanned systems."