A new “air-to-ground” class missile was demonstrated in Israel.
Israeli developers presented the newest budget “air-to-ground” cruise missile Wind Demon surface” that destroys air defense systems and moving targets. As stated in the official release of the developer Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), this light and affordable ammunition meets the requirements of the modern battlefield, offering new opportunities for the task of mass strikes, ArmyInform informs.
In the conditions of modern conflicts, according to designers from the Tel Aviv Corporation, efficiency and availability are becoming key factors. Wind Demon (Демон витру, — in Ukrainian) has unique characteristics, as the developers assure, designed to change the approach to conducting military operations, providing the army with the ability to deliver massive strikes on various targets. The new cruise missile combines advanced technology and affordability, making it an attractive choice for many countries seeking to modernize their weapons.
Wind Demon weighs 140 kg and has a range of over 200 km, allowing the munition to be launched from various aerial platforms, including helicopters and military aircraft. This rocket is designed with taking into account modern requirements for accuracy and efficiency, which makes it an ideal tool for performing various combat missions.
One of the key features of the Wind Demon is the presence of laser homing heads and electro-optics, which ensures high accuracy in both day and night conditions. In addition, the system includes automatic recognition of objects, which greatly simplifies the process of targeting and increases the probability of a successful hit.
In IAI emphasizes the capabilities of telemetry connection of the rocket, which allow to transmit video in in real time and maintain control over the situation during the mission. This means operators can quickly react to changes in the combat environment and correct missile actions in real time. Her variable speed profile — fast/slow/fast — allows for prompt response and selective approach at low speed to objects of interest.
“The weapon is a new generation of cruise missiles of the air-to-ground class, which combines new capabilities based on many years of experience in the development of missiles and ammunition for hitting targets,” said Guy Bar Lev, Executive Vice President of IAI.
The ammunition also has an adapted warhead, the weight of which exceeds 20 kilograms. It can be configured for different types of action: explosive, fragmentation or penetrating. This makes Wind Demon a universal solution for hitting both stationary and moving targets, including air defense systems and radars.
In IAI emphasize that Wind Demon is « “pragmatic answer” on the changing nature of war, where accessibility and possibility of mass use become critically important. In the conditions of current conflicts, there is a growing interest in ammunition that can be used in large quantities without significant costs. Wind Demon as a light and inexpensive ammunition meets this request, offering the army the ability to effectively conduct combat operations with minimal costs.
Although the exact cost of Wind Demon has not yet been disclosed, experts assume that it will be significantly lower compared to larger missiles, such as Storm Shadow or Tomahawk, which can cost over a million dollars. This makes the Wind Demon an attractive choice for countries seeking to modernize their armed forces without going beyond budgets.