Rheinmetal delivers new super drone to Ukraine: capabilities of German  cutting-edge Luna NG 

Defence Express outlines the capabilities and specifications of this advanced German technology.

Rheinmetall, a prominent defense giant, plans to deliver the Luna NG (Next Generation) reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle to the Ukrainian military by the end of this year. This advanced drone system was unveiled at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in France in June 2022.

The Luna NG system encompasses a ground control station, multiple drones (customizable according to requirements), a launching catapult (landing is achieved through a parachute), and military trucks.

Featuring an "ultra-light yet highly stable fuselage structure" constructed from carbon fiber reinforced plastic, the drone is well-suited for challenging environments.

Luna NG's flight endurance ranges from 8 to 12 hours, compared to 6-8 hours in the previous version, with a control range of 100 km. This translates to spatial coverage exceeding 30,000 square kilometers. The drone's maximum flight altitude is 5000 meters. Its minimal acoustic, thermal, and radar signatures during flight are noteworthy, as highlighted by Rheinmetall. The drone weighs 40 kg.

The developer emphasizes that operators can quickly master the Luna NG drone due to its high level of automation. The included software facilitates mission planning and data analysis.

The primary role of the Luna NG drone is reconnaissance and target correction. Additionally, these UAVs can establish LTE networks and intercept or jam communications.

Although Rheinmetall unveiled an armed version of the Luna NG drone in April 2023, equipped with Israeli Hero-R barrage munitions, Ukraine will not receive this "strike" variant for obvious reasons.