The launch of Switchblade on 6 April 2018 during a Robotic Complex Breach Concept assessment and demonstration at Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory T. Summers, U.S. Army).
A Russian aviation design bureau is developing a tube-launched loitering munition dubbed Vector-120, TASS reported on June 29.
The unnamed design bureau told the news agency that engineering efforts and pilot production of the loitering munition are underway.
“We plan to enter the flight test phase as early as 2024. The device will be launched from a disposable launch tube in the serviceman’s gear,” the bureau said.
The design bureau said that Vector-120 will carry a warhead weighing 220-250 grams, with a destructive power comparable to that of RGD-5 and F-1 hand grenades or an RPG-7 anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade.
The design concept of the Vector-120 is similar to that of the American-made Switchblade loitering munition, which is in service with Kiev forces, according to the developer. However, unlike the Switchblade, the Vector-120 can start from any position.
“The item can be launched without visible smoke, fly to a certain distance from the launcher, unfold its wings and carry out the flight mission,” the design bureau said.
The Russian military already operates several types of loitering munitions and suicide drones, like the KUB-BLA and the Lancet which were developed by the ZALA Aero Group as well as the Geran-1 and 2 which are said to be copies of Iranian Shahed-131 and 136.
The high flexibility of the Vector-120 will provide a new capability for the Russian military. The loitering munition will likely be used mainly against lightly armored vehicles, supply trucks, surveillance and jamming equipment as well as frontline positions.
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aj toto je jeden z dôvodov prečo sa rf neponáhľa. niet nad možnosť vyskúšať si svoje výrobky priamo v boji. tu sa dajú rýchle vychytať všetky nedostatky a následne pracovať na ich odstránení.
this war should of been over a year ago, somting fishy denmark. banks are circling the drain and the stock market is preparing for lights out…..be water my friends.
…should *have* been…
make the tubes the same diameter as your most common mlrs system and you’ll have a cheap drone swarm weapon.
getting close to what i consider an ideal weapon. this is basically a smart hand grenade that you can toss over 5km. the next step is to use optical sensors and onboard ai processing to identify targets on its own without operator intervention. this will make it impervious to ew countermeasures and easier to deploy. both cameras and processing power are getting very cheap and small. all it has to do is recognize, ‘truck’ or ‘people carrying guns’.
how ai could avoid friendly fire ? sometimes simplier weapons are a better choice.
seems like every other day the russians are coming up with new stuff. from the most sanctioned country in history. 🇷🇺 🇷🇺 🇷🇺 🇷🇺 🇷🇺
we amerikan use lgbt and taliban humiliate us
nato and the us are eagerly supplying the afu with the weapons technology and ideas that russia will advance for themselves. it is complete craziness but then again, so is electing joe china biden.