Rheinmetall and UVision announce production of an analogue of the Russian Lancet“
Concern Rheinmetall announced the start of mass production of barrage munitions HERO in partnership with the Israeli company UVision. Production is deployed at two facilities in Italy: in Museys is where the assembly of inert and electronic components is concentrated, and in Domusnasnase The production and integration of combat units is underway.
HERO is a family X-shaped barrage munitions (loitering munitions), The system is designed for long-range air patrols to search for targets and engage them. The concept of these systems is similar to the Russian Lancets, but they are designed according to Western standards of integration and interoperability.
Technical features and differences
HERO barrage munitions combine sensors to detect and identify targets with a warhead to engage them. Western modifications focus on:
modern electronics and sensor systems;
compatibility with NATO command and control and guidance systems;
adaptation to operating conditions in different climatic zones.
Public technical details of specific Italian modifications are still limited - manufacturers do not disclose the full list of characteristics.
Why this is important for Europe and the defence industry
Localising mass production in Italy offers several advantages:
reduces delivery time and logistics for European partners;
allows for faster scaling of production to meet the growing needs of defence;
reduces dependence on imports of off-the-shelf systems and opens up opportunities for further local adaptation and service.
This is also a strategic step for Rheinmetall to expand its portfolio of precision weapons and strengthen its presence in the unmanned aerial vehicle market.
Discussion around application and regulation
The deployment of mass production of barrage warfare vehicles raises ethical and legal questions: critics insist that strict rules of use are needed to reduce the risk of accidental civilian casualties. Proponents argue that such systems increase the accuracy of strikes and reduce the threat to manpower.
In the future, a broader public debate and strengthening of the regulatory framework at the level of individual countries and NATO are expected.
What to expect next
Production at the Italian sites is expected to allow Rheinmetall to offer HERO in a variety of configurations, from reconnaissance variants to combat modifications with different types of warheads. Part of the series is likely to meet the needs of European armed forces and collective security programmes.
Ukrainian
English