Hungary Orders Several Hundred Million Euros Worth of HERO Loitering Munitions From Rheinmetall-UVision Joint Venture
Within the framework of the “Zrínyi 2026” Defense and Military Development Program, the Hungarian Ministry of Defense continues to strengthen its strike capabilities. In this context, the Eastern European country has bought the Hero Loitering Munitions developed by Rheinmetall, a German defense company, and UVision, an Israeli drone supplier. Rheinmetall stated in a statement on the subject that sales were “in the low three-digit, million-euro range,” with deliveries beginning in 2024 and ending in 2025. However, no information was provided by the company about the different models of the kamikaze drones ordered by Hungary.
The Hero family is a loitering munitions series designed and manufactured in partnership with Rheinmetall, a German defense corporation, and UVision Air, an Israeli drone supplier, to address the rapidly expanding demand for remote-controlled precision munitions. The Hero-30, Hero-90, Hero-120, Hero-400EC, Hero-900, and Hero-1250 are all part of this series. Each loitering munition has a unique mission specification, range, size, flight time, and warhead weight.
Smaller HERO series models, such as the Hero-30, Hero-90, and Hero-120, have been developed to satisfy the operational needs of special forces and infantry units. These lightweight munitions, which can be carried by a single soldier in a backpack, can be deployed and launched in 2–3 minutes. The Hero-30, the smallest system in the HERO smart loitering munitions system family, has a range of 1km, whereas the Hero-90 has a range of 40 km and the Hero-120 has a range of 60 km.
The series’ larger variants, including the Hero-400EC, Hero-900, and Hero-1250, were designed to meet the operational needs of field-deployed units that are tasked with covering more extended ranges, locating targets, and engaging them at greater distances. These munitions, which can be carried and launched by land, air, or naval platforms, can fly for longer distances than the series’ smaller variants and are equipped with more powerful warheads. The Hero-400EC, weighing 50 kg, can carry warheads weighing up to 10 kg, stay in the air for up to 120 minutes, and have an effective range of more than 120 km. The Hero-900 is capable of carrying a 30 kg warhead and flying for 6 hours. With a range of 150 km, the Hero-900 is extremely effective on the modern battlefield. The 155 kg Hero-1250, the largest of the HERO loitering munitions system family, stands out with its 50 kg warhead and 200 km range.
All HERO munitions can engage targets autonomously, including reconnaissance, tracking, and identification. Hero loitering munitions can detect, track, and engage enemy targets with low signatures that appear beyond line of sight. These loitering munitions systems, according to Rheinmetall, circle over the target area, detecting and tracking the enemy and analyzing possible targets. They help select the appropriate timing, direction, and angle of attack, as well as high-value targets, before executing a high-precision attack. They can also operate in complex battlefield conditions, including environments without GPS reception or broken radio links.