State-owned Israel Aerospace Industries arms firm on Thursday unveiled a new small hand-launched missile, or drone, that can return to a soldier’s hand without exploding, the company said.
The announcement came after IAI was awarded a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract with the United States Department of Defense to develop a version of the missile for the American market.
The device, called Point Blank, is a small electro-optically guided missile that can be carried in a soldier’s backpack. It can be launched and operated by a single soldier.
Loitering munitions are also known as “suicide drones” or “kamikaze drones”.
In a video published by IAI (above), the device can be seen being launched by a man before it takes off into the sky in a van held as a target.
According to IAI, the device weighs about 6.8 kg (15 lb) and is about 90 cm (3 ft) tall. It can fly at a maximum speed of 286 kilometers per hour (178 mph) at altitudes above 460 meters (1,500 ft), and hover in the air while the operator verifies the nature and precise position of the target.
It added that the device includes electro-optical systems to verify and collect surveillance information in real time, as well as a warhead to destroy a target.
According to the IAI, if the operator decides not to attack, the device can be flown back and land safely in their hand.
“The system responds to a battlefield need to provide tactical units ranging from small tactical teams to battalion level with an independent and organic capability to increase their lethality,” the IAI said in a statement.
The point blank variant being developed for the US Department of Defense is dubbed ROC-X and the first prototype and training will be provided in the coming fiscal year, the company said.
IAI develops and manufactures advanced systems for air, space, sea, land, cyber and homeland security. Since 1953, the company has provided technology solutions to government and commercial customers around the world, including satellites, missiles, weapon systems and munitions, unmanned and robotic systems, and radar.
