Unnamed European country orders SkyStriker loitering munitions

Israeli defense company Elbit Systems will supply SkyStriker loitering munitions (LM – ed.) for the unnamed European country.

This was reported by the press service of the manufacturer.

Elbit Systems was awarded a contract to supply “several hundred” SkyStriker LM to one of the European countries.

Having a total value of $95 million, the contract will run for two years.

SkyStriker

SkyStriker is a fully autonomous loitering munition that can detect, lock-on and hit operator-determined targets with high accuracy.

The drone weighing up to 35 kg is equipped with an electric engine and capable of flying for 2 hours within a radius of 100 km.

The unmanned system is able to “maintain communication” even in the absence of a GPS signal and in the conditions of enemy electronic warfare operation.

SkyStriker can use several types of warheads with the weights of 5 and 10 kg. Due to their modular design, they can be replaced in the field during flight preparation according to operation requirements.

The drone can be launched from a variety of platforms and installations. The main launch method is catapult launch, but it is possible to start from a special container for PULS MLRS, which are also manufactured by Elbit Systems.

Among European countries, future operators of PULS rocket systems are Denmark, the Netherlands and another unnamed country (presumably Spain).

SkyStriker by Elbit Systems first appeared on the arms market in 2017 and has already proven itself well during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. Besides, according to some data, the drone hit the Syrian Pantsir-S air defense system in 2019.

Currently, the main operators of these unmanned systems are Israel itself, Azerbaijan and India.