Advanced Tactical Loitering Munition Exposed

Advanced Tactical Loitering Munition Exposed

loitering munition

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A remotely operated electro-optical, precise guided Loitering Munition(LM) designed to seek, locate and engage various targets for the tactical level corps will be exposed to the international public at the upcoming 2017 Paris Air Show in Le Bourget by Elbit Systems. The new platform, SkyStriker, is based on Elbit Systems’ vast experience providing precise long-range tactical solutions.

SkyStriker is able to locate, acquire and strike operator-marked targets enabling high-precision performance.

According to the company’s announcement, the system’s electric propulsion provides a low acoustic signature and enables covert low altitude operations. Due to its flight speed capability, it can reach a distance of tens of kilometers within minutes. Upon reaching the target area, it can loiter and pursue the target for up to two hours.

SkyStriker offers quick deployment and ease of operation in the field, provides forces with the ability to observe and identify an enemy target before delivering a rapid precision airstrike. Its remote operation capability reduces operators’ exposure to detection or enemy fire while guiding the LM to its target. In addition to high accuracy, long range and a significant loitering time, the SkyStriker is capable of carrying up to 10 kilograms of munitions. The system also provides significant flexibility such as the ability to choose any target, to engage at any direction and in various angles (shallow to steep) while significantly decreasing costs. Moreover, SkyStriker enables the operator to abort a strike up to two seconds to impact, to re-engage and in the case of lack of authorized target – to order a safe return home.