On August 15, the German conglomerate Rheinmetall officially announced its intention to transfer the most advanced reconnaissance drones, Luna NG, to Ukraine.
Source: Rheinmetall.
Ukraine to Receive Next-Generation Drones: First Details
As stated by the company’s press service, the next-generation Luna NG reconnaissance drone with close-range aerial support will soon begin operating on the territory of Ukraine.
Furthermore, it is emphasized that these systems will be delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine on behalf of Germany during the current year. According to the latest information, the ‘drone package’ will consist of a ground control station with multiple drones, a launch catapult, and military trucks.
What is currently known about the next-generation Luna drones?
According to the German developers, Rheinmetall’s Luna is a recently developed unmanned system that surpasses the previous model in all key operational characteristics.
In addition to its use as a reconnaissance system, the drones can also provide an LTE network, intercept, or jam communications. Furthermore, it is emphasized that the lightweight fuselage of the ‘Luna NG’ can ensure flight endurance of over 12 hours, and the data transmission range exceeds 100 km.
It is also worth mentioning that the mentioned drone provides spatial coverage of over 30,000 sq. km. Rheinmetall also highlights that it can be effectively launched from any location using a cable catapult. The landing of the drone is autonomously carried out using differential GPS within the network or by parachute.