Hungary to purchase Hero kamikaze drones

20 July, 2023 Hero-120 loitering munition. Illustrative photo Hungary awarded the German defense company Rheinmetall a contract to supply Hero series loitering munitions.

The news was published on the company's official website. The Hero UAV is a series of loitering munitions developed in collaboration between the Israeli company UVision and German Rheinmetall. The latter produces these drones for European customers.

The exact value of the contract is unknown. However, according to Rheinmetall representatives, it comes to about hundreds of millions of euros. Deliveries are due to start in 2024 and are scheduled to be completed in 2025.

A specific model of the drone is also unknown. The image added to the news on the contract by the manufacturer displays a Hero-120 version.

Hero-120 loitering munition

UVision Hero

Hero loitering munitions primarily differ in dimensions, which dictate their operational and flight performance. All Hero series drones are adapted to operate in difficult battlefield conditions, including when the enemy uses electronic warfare systems to jam radio and satellite signals.

Series of Hero-30, Hero-120, and Hero-400 loitering munitions

Hero-120 is designed to patrol the area and destroy the armored equipment of a potential enemy, at its core is a kamikaze drone.

It has quite large dimensions. In particular, the length of this device is 1.5 meters, and its own weight is 12.5 kilograms, of which 3.5 kilograms falls on the warhead. The drone can hit targets at a distance of up to 40 kilometers and can stay in the air for up to 60 minutes.

It generates little noise in flight due to the electric engine, which positively affects the ability to penetrate the rear of the enemy.