Ukrainian Armed Forces to receive state-of-the-art Luna NG drone system
13 August, 2023 Luna NG on the launcher. Photo credits: Rheinmetall. The German conglomerate Rheinmetall will supply the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a state-of-the-art Luna NG drone system.
Bild reported on this. The unmanned aircraft was funded by the German government and is due to be delivered to Ukraine by the end of this year. The acronym NG in the system's name stands for Next Generation.
The drone's original developer is the Spanish company Embention. Luna NG is launched by a catapult. Landing is executed using a built-in parachute.
The drone has good thermal, radar, and acoustic specifications that allow it to perform the tasks without being noticed.
Luna NG on the launcher. Photo credits: Rheinmetall.
The fuselage is made of lightweight yet durable carbon fiber. Highly reliable systems and robust construction ensure the drone's operation in adverse weather and climate conditions.
Rheinmetall notes that Luna offers a flight time of over 12 hours, but the recommended flight time is no more than 8 hours, with its data link range of over 100 km. The control distance can be extended with the help of a repeater drone. At the same time, the Luna NG can follow a programmed route without communicating with a ground control station.
The maximum flight altitude is 5 kilometers. The drone is powered by a low-noise two-stroke two-cylinder engine.
The Rheinmetall Combat Drone drops kamikaze drones. Photo credits: Rheinmetall.
The drone has a modular design and can be equipped with electro-optical and infrared surveillance equipment.
In addition, its design provides for the installation of radar reconnaissance and electronic warfare equipment. Rheinmetall presented the Luna-based unmanned aerial system in April this year and called it a "game changer". It was named the Rheinmetall Combat Drone.
Quadcopters equipped with munition are loaded into the inner container of the UAV.
After detecting the targets, these UAVs are launched and accurately aimed.
Combat Drone visually records the target using an optical module.