Rheinmetall tested the FV 014 kamikaze drone with a range of up to 100 kilometres
The demonstration took place at the National Test Centre for Unmanned Aircraft Systems of the German Aerospace Centre in Kochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt. During the demonstration, the FV 014 system simulated various reconnaissance and target engagement scenarios.
The FV 014 belongs to the loitering munition system class and combines reconnaissance and strike functions in a single complex. The system is designed for dynamic combat use at ranges of up to 100 kilometres beyond line of sight. It is capable of destroying armoured and unarmoured targets, including combat vehicles, artillery positions and command posts.
The device weighs about 20 kilograms, of which 6 kilograms are accounted for by the warhead. According to the manufacturer, the ammunition can penetrate more than 600 millimetres of solid homogeneous steel armour. The flight duration is up to 70 minutes, which provides sufficient time for observation, target selection and decision-making on the attack.
The launch is carried out from a container using a launch accelerator or from a multi-charge launcher. After launch, the device unfolds its folding wings and transitions to aerodynamic flight. It is possible to use several drones simultaneously to hit different targets.
The FV 014 is equipped with modern sensor technologies and networking capabilities. It is controlled via a ground station with constant operator supervision. The system is optimised for operation in conditions of satellite navigation jamming and has reduced acoustic and thermal signatures.
For Rheinmetall, the successful demonstration marked another milestone in the development of loitering munitions.
