Rheinmetall’s LUNA NG reconnaissance drone will see action in Ukraine. The next-generation LUNA-NG air-supported short-range reconnaissance system should be ready for delivery to Ukraine this year.

The Dusseldorf-based company said it received an order for the LUNG NG worth in the low double-digit million-euro amount. The LUNA NG system ordered for Ukraine is part of an extensive military aid package initiated by the German government in July 2023. The Bundeswehr is currently introducing the LUNA NG unmanned reconnaissance system under the name “Husar”. 

The LUNA NG has already clocked several thousand hours of flying time, including active deployment. 

Experience accumulated during the war in Ukraine shows how crucial having real-time reconnaissance results can be at the operational level. This is precisely the purpose of the LUNA NG, an acronym standing for “Unbemannte Nahaufklärungs¬ausstattung der nächsten Generation” or “unmanned short-range reconnaissance equipment, next generation”.

The last word in unmanned air-supported reconnaissance, Rheinmetall says it can detect, classify and recognize objects in real-time.  

The unmanned aerial system comprises a ground control station and several unmanned aerial vehicles, otherwise known as drones. The system also includes a launch catapult, optional net equipment for catching the drones when they land as well as equipment for rapid repair. The entire system is mounted on an HX truck with a swap body system made by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles. 

Thanks to their ultralight high-stability design, LUNA NG drones can remain aloft for more than 12 hours. Moreover, when fitted with optional StaCom equipment, they have a datalink range of up to 300 kilometres.  It has a reconnaissance capability of several hundred kilometres with sufficient time over the mission area.

LUNA NG is an advanced sensor component for networked operations, which significantly increases the performance of the sensor-to-shooter chain. At the same time, LUNA NG provides the basis for future development of Rheinmetall's product portfolio both in the field of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities and tactical payloads.