UVision Hero-120
SInce 2011, the Israeli company UVision has been developing its Hero family of loitering munitions. Six different size/weight models currently exist, from the smallest Hero-30, a man-portable short-range anti-personnel weapon, to the largest Hero-1250, suitable for long-range attacks on armored strategic targets.
The Hero-120 is in the middle of that range. In principle, the single launch canister is man-portable, but the -120 is typically used from vehicle-mounted 4-, 6- or 8-cell multi-canister launchers. After launch, the Hero-120 has an endurance of up to 60 minutes in loitering mode, where it can perform ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) over an area with potential targets. The typical operating altitude is 360-900 m (1200-3000 ft), but UVision has demonstrated successful ISR and attack from an altitude of 5500 m (18000 ft). The Hero-120 is equipped with a gimballed EO/IR day/night-vision system with auto-tracking capabilities. The compact size and quiet electric propulsion ensures low visual, acoustic and IR signatures. The 4.5 kg (10 lb) warhead is a combined anti-armor/anti-personnel type, and targets can be preprogrammed using GPS location data, or selected by the operator on opportunity. The cruciform wings give the vehicle a high manoeuverability, and targets can by attacked at any angle, up to directly vertical. An attack can be aborted until shortly before impact, sending the drone back into loitering mode. If remaining battery power allows, it can even be flown back to the launch area and recovered by parachute.
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| Photo: UVision |
| Hero-120 |
In 2021, the U.S. Marine Corps ordered the Hero-120 model to fulfill its OPF-M (Organic Precision Fires - Mounted) system requirement. At that time, the Marines planned to install launchers on the 8×8 LAV-M (Light Armored Vehicle-Mortar), 4×4 JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle), and future LRUSVs (Long-Range Unmanned Surface Vessels).
Specifications
Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!
Data for Hero-120:
| Length | ? |
| Wingspan | ? |
| Weight | 18 kg (incl. canister) |
| Speed | 90-260 km/h (55-160 mph) |
| Ceiling | 5500 m (18000 ft) |
| Range | 60 km (37 miles) |
| Endurance | 1 h |
| Propulsion | Electric motor |
Main Sources
[1] UVision: Hero-120
[2] Rheinmetall:
Hero-120
[3] Jane's, Robin Hughes:
Hero-120 loitering munition selected for USMC OPF-M system requirement
[4] The War Zone, Joseph Trevithick:
Our Best
Look Yet At The Marines’ New Loitering Munition Toting Drone Boat
Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4
Last Updated: 25 January 2024