Germany's LUNA NG drone: Redefining battlefield reconnaissance

Operational experience gained from the current course of the war in Ukraine highlights the crucial role of real-time data transmission from reconnaissance assets to command posts. With this requirement in mind, the German company Rheinmetall designed the next-generation LUNA NG (Luftgestützte Unbemannte NahaufklärungsAusstattung der Nächsten Generation) reconnaissance unmanned aerial system.

LUNA NG can operate for up to 12 hours thanks to its refined aerodynamic design and lightweight build. Its altitude ceiling is 16,400 feet. The airframe is made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. LUNA NG has a range of 93 miles in its basic version, but this can be extended to about 311 miles using a satellite data link. The drone can fly entirely autonomously on a pre-programmed route or be manually controlled by an operator.

During a single mission, LUNA NG can inspect an area of 11,583 square miles in standard configuration. The aircraft is powered by a two-stroke combustion engine. To make detection more difficult and reduce the acoustic signature, LUNA NG can switch to gliding with the engine off at certain moments and turn the engine back on once it has moved away from a threat area.

The aircraft is launched from a foldable catapult and can land using a controlled flight into a deployed net or by parachute. One aircraft, along with the catapult and control station, can be transported on a MAN HX truck, but if needed, it can also be transported in a helicopter cabin. A single system includes five drones, two control stations, two launch catapults, two communication masts, and a workshop. The entire setup is installed on three trucks. A vertical take-off variant was also presented during the ILA exhibition.

In two compartments, the fuselage can be fitted with reconnaissance sensors weighing up to 66 pounds. The primary reconnaissance equipment consists of optoelectronic heads operating in visible and infrared light spectrums. Additionally, acoustic sensors or spectrum analysis sensors can be installed. The drone can also be used as a mobile communication node, equipped with radio or cellular communications antennas. The equipment can also include a mobile phone locator using IMEI tracking technology.

Despite the real-time reconnaissance data transmission, wartime experiences have shown the need to shorten the chain of command further to open fire. Thus, at the ILA 2024 fair, a modified drone with weapon-carrying capability was presented. Under its wings, it can carry RGB 10 (Rheinmetall Gliding Bomb 10) gliding bombs. This is a demonstrator of ammunition technology that is still in development. The bomb weighs approximately 22 pounds, and its declared range is 3-6 miles, depending on the drop height. A specially angular fuselage shape was used to reduce the radar signature. The warhead and guidance system are still being refined, and the manufacturer hopes to secure funding from the European Union for this purpose.

In 2023, the manufacturer, through the German government, delivered such a system to Ukraine, not only to enhance the reconnaissance capabilities of the defending country but also primarily to conduct realistic tests under combat conditions and make any necessary improvements to the design before starting mass production. The tests were successful, and later that same year, the German armed forces ordered the system. In the Bundeswehr, LUNA NG will be named Husar. The order comprises thirteen systems, including the necessary equipment. The contract is worth 200 million euros, and the first unit is scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2025. The Husar systems will be assigned to reconnaissance and artillery units.