The drone is designed for strikes against heavy armored vehicles. It carries more explosives than its Russian counterpart and flies at least 20 minutes longer.
The US government has awarded UVision and Mistral a $73,552,208 contract to supply Hero-120SF barrage munitions to US Special Operations Command. The European Defense Review portal writes about it.
The specifications of the Hero-120SF have not been disclosed. All that is known is that, when compared to the base version of the Hero-120, this model has a higher payload capacity, a more advanced guidance system, and increased flexibility for deployment from different platforms. The manufacturer's website states that the Hero-120 has a starting mass of 14.5 kilograms, is equipped with a warhead weighing 4.5 kilograms, can strike at a distance of up to 60 kilometers and can stay in the air for up to 60 minutes.
The Hero-120SF system was reportedly designed for special forces operations. This is a modern medium-range anti-tank system designed for strikes against heavy armored vehicles. In addition to the UAVs themselves, the agreement includes the supply of spare parts and training to operate the new equipment. The Hero-120SF will be manufactured at UVision USA's facilities in Virginia and at SAIC's new facility. The contract is expected to be completed by 2029.
“This important contract with US Special Operations Command, a uniquely important unit, supported by our close partnership with Mistral, underscores UVision and Mistral's commitment to providing advanced technology and operational experience to guarantee US national security”, — said UVision USA Board of Directors Chairman Avi Mizrachi.
Barrage ammunition from company UVision
It should be noted that the Hero-120SF and Russian barrage ammunition “Lancet” occupy the same niche from the point of view of application on the battlefield. At the same time, even the basic version of Hero-120 surpasses “Lancet” in a number of parameters. Thus, the Lancet 1 and Lancet 3 drones have a warhead of 1 and 3 kilograms, a launch mass of 5 and 12 kilograms, and a flight duration of 30 and 40 minutes, respectively.
Recall that in March of this year it became it is known that the Israeli company UVision and the American SAIC (Science Applications International Corp.) have signed an agreement to manufacture the Hero-120 at a plant in South Carolina.
Last year, UVision USA and the company Axxeum conducted tests of the Hero-120, in within which drones were launched from a helicopter. The barrage munition successfully separated from the vehicle at a safe altitude and hit a ground target at a distance of 50 kilometers.