NATO customer awards German Rheinmetall hundred million euros for Hero loitering munitions.

A NATO member has ordered several hundred Rheinmetall Hero loitering munitions, with deliveries planned from early to late 2026. The deal signals a shift inside the Alliance toward routine integration of precision loitering systems in frontline strike missions.

According to Rheinmetall, a NATO customer has placed a low three-digit million euro order for multiple models of the Hero loitering munition family, continuing a rapid continental uptake of precision strike drones. Company officials note that production will run through RWM Italia in partnership with UVision Air, and that the unnamed buyer reflects a growing trend in which European forces treat loitering munitions as standard combat tools rather than emergency gap fillers.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The order revolves around three members of the Hero family already rolling off the RWM Italia production line.  (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

Loitering Munition (LM) technology combines the autonomy and persistence of an unmanned system with the terminal precision of a guided weapon. Rheinmetall and UVision build the Hero series around this fusion, relying on electro-optical and infrared seekers as well as man in the loop guidance that permits the operator to update or abort strikes until impact. This model gives land units the means to observe an objective from stand-off positions, wait for a firing window and apply controlled effects with limited collateral risk. In contested environments where sensors saturate the battlefield, the value of a munition that can hold for minutes above a target while remaining under direct human control becomes clear, especially for forces operating without immediate air support.

The order revolves around three members of the Hero family already rolling off the RWM Italia production line. Hero 30, intended for infantry elements, weighs roughly 7.8 kg, carries a 0.5 kg explosive charge, and remains airborne for about half an hour with a practical reach of close to 10 km. Its electric motor and compact canister launcher allow rapid, low signature employment by small units. Hero 120 answers the requirement for anti-armour effects with a warhead of roughly 4 to 5 kg, endurance near one hour and a reach in the region of 40 km. It uses a gimballed seeker and encrypted data link to refine the aim point quality during the terminal dive. Hero 400, the larger airframe of the series, pairs an 8 kg charge with endurance approaching two hours and can exceed 100 km depending on launch parameters, giving ground or naval platforms a more substantial strike choice against hardened positions.

Every airframe in the range relies on electric propulsion and pneumatic launch to reduce acoustic, thermal and radar signatures. Once airborne, the seeker transmits live video to a portable console that handles mission planning and targeting. The operator benefits from stable electro-optical and infrared imagery throughout the flight envelope, which allows correction of heading, altitude, and terminal approach angle. Because these munitions are equipped with a man-in-the-loop architecture, they can loiter until a tank emerges from cover, disengage if non-combatants enter the area, or redirect to a secondary position if the situation evolves. This flexibility distinguishes them from classic artillery shells governed by ballistic trajectories and fixed fusing.

In tactical terms, Hero Loitering Munition (LM) systems bring company and battalion commanders an intermediate strike option between mortars and higher echelon fires. Hero 30 travels with assault units to suppress sensors, light vehicles, or entrenched infantry in rugged or urban terrain. Hero 120 extends the reach of mechanised battalions by engaging main battle tanks or command posts from safe distances, improving survivability for forward scouts. Hero 400 serves heavier roles against long-range radar, air defence launchers, or logistics hubs. Used in series, these systems provide overlapping ranges and effects, adding resilience to formations that might otherwise depend on scarce air sorties or centralised artillery batteries.

The operational consequences extend beyond strike effects. Video and metadata from the munition feed directly into battle management networks, turning each airframe into a reconnaissance node that strengthens situational awareness. Units can cross-cue other sensors, validate coordinates for artillery, or adjust manoeuvre plans based on real-time imagery. Because the operator supervises the munition throughout its mission, adherence to rules of engagement remains precise, an aspect increasingly important for Western armies working under strict legal oversight. At the same time, the relative affordability of these systems compared to crewed aircraft or complex missiles encourages procurement in volumes suitable for sustained high intensity operations.

The industrial dimension reinforces European ambitions to strengthen their defence technological and industrial base. RWM Italia’s line is already delivering to multiple European North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members and partners, helping reduce reliance on external suppliers and anchoring advanced manufacturing capacity within the continent. UVision benefits from greater access to European programmes while retaining key intellectual property, creating a balanced partnership that can adjust to future needs in seeker technology, datalinks, or warhead design. The scale of orders now received across Europe suggests that serial production will continue to rise in 2026 as more armies integrate loitering munitions into their core force structures.

Geopolitically, the order illustrates a broader shift inside NATO toward distributed, networked strike capabilities designed to counter adversaries equipped with dense air defence and growing drone inventories. The war in Ukraine exposed the vulnerability of static units to small precision weapons and showed how inexpensive loitering munitions disrupt supply chains, air defence radars, and command posts. By expanding the HERO fleet, European armies seek to secure parity in attritional conflicts while refining their counter-drone doctrines. The contract signals how Western forces adjust to an environment marked by persistent surveillance, rapid kill chains, and a more contested battlespace, where adaptable, long endurance loitering systems shape both deterrence and operational planning.