Rheinmetall showcases LUNA Next Generation airsupported reconnaissance system at ILA 2022.

Under the motto “Providing friendly forces with the best-possible protection”, Rheinmetall was spotlighting numerous innovations and further developments of its division's Vehicle Systems, Weapon and Ammunition und Electronic Solutions at the ILA 2022, the trade fair for the aerospace industry.

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LUNA NG next-generation air-supported close-range reconnaissance system (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

Among the Rheinmetall products debuting this year was the LUNA NG next-generation air-supported close-range reconnaissance system. An unmanned aerial system, the state-of-the-art LUNA NG reconnoitres, classifies and recognizes objects on the ground in real-time.

Thanks to its ultralight, high-stability design, the LUNA NG can stay aloft for over 12 hours. Moreover, it offers a datalink range of up to 150 kilometres, which can be further increased by means of optional SatCom equipment. The LUNA NG has a maximum payload of over 30 kilograms. Thus, in addition to high-resolution optronic sensors, the LUNA NG can carry numerous other reconnaissance assets, enabling it to conduct a variety of mission-specific tasks.

The Bundeswehr (German army) will soon be introducing the LUNA NG unmanned reconnaissance system. Dubbed the “Husar”, the new drone will significantly enhance the reconnaissance capabilities of the German military. Constituting an important milestone in the digitization of the armed forces, the system will serve as the basis for new applications and development activity, e.g., for manned-unmanned teaming. In addition, AI capabilities and applications for automated data evaluation, for example, can be expanded and directly tested and integrated. The LUNA NG was originally developed by EMT Ingenieurgesellschaft Dipl.-Ing.

Hartmut Euer mbH (EMT), a company whose activities Rheinmetall took over at the turn of the year 2020/2021. The transaction reflects Rheinmetall’s strategy of widening its role as a systems supplier capable of meeting the full range of military requirements. As well as adding to the Group’s portfolio of advanced products and services, the EMT buyout ensures that important defence technology capabilities remain in Germany.

This acquisition reinforces Rheinmetall’s position in the defence market, underscoring its status as a prime driver of military digitization. By combining its own expertise with the capabilities of EMT, Rheinmetall can take added technological responsibility for central elements of networked digital communications and reconnaissance for the armed forces.

In addition to the LUNA NG, Rheinmetall is expanding its activities in other parts of the UAS domain. For example, by integrating unmanned air-supported reconnaissance into various vehicle platforms, Rheinmetall enhances the situational awareness of modern combat vehicles in built-up areas and at close quarters. As a result, vehicle crews can independently conduct reconnaissance operations with the integrated mission systems from the safety of the armoured fighting compartment without media interruption, sharing the results with other actors in their network. Built into existing vehicle mission systems, reconnaissance UAVs of various sizes and ranges are integrated into several platforms.

In addition to the LUNA NG, Rheinmetall is expanding its activities in other parts of the UAS domain. For example, by integrating unmanned air-supported reconnaissance into various vehicle platforms (Picture source: Rheinmetall)