IAI’s New Loitering Munition “Mini Harpy” Debuts at Aero India-2019

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled its new loitering munition “Mini Harpy” at the ongoing Aero India 2019 airshow.

The suicide drone, like its larger counterpart, flies over an area until a target is spotted. The drone, which carries an 8-kilogram (17.6-pound) warhead, is then directed to fly straight into the enemy object, where it explodes on impact.

The mini Harpy combines the capabilities of IAI’s Harop and the Harpy. The Harpy can carry a 32-kilogram (70-pound) warhead while the Harop has a 23-kilogram (51-pound) warhead and a range of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).

“Rather than relying on precise reference point, the system we developed loiters in the air waiting for the target to appear and then attacks and destroys the hostile threat within seconds,” Boaz Levy, General Manager and Executive VP of IAI Systems said.

The Mini Harpy is a tactical system designed for field or marine units. It can be launched from land, marine and helicopter borne platforms towards the target area. The system is designed to provide operators with control up to the last moment, including cessation of attach at any stage. The suicide drone operates in mission range of 100 km for duration of two house and 45 kg in weight.