The Hero-30 is a tactical, canister-launched, infantry-level expendable Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) developed and manufactured by UVision of Israel. The compact size of the system allows it to be man-portable into battle and operate in a pseudo-Close-Air Support (CAS) role while simplicity of design ensures quick setup and equally quick action for the unit.
The complete aircraft system weighs just 3 kilograms, is armed a warhead of 0.5 kilograms, and ranges through Line-of-Sight (LoS) controlling up to 40 kilometers from the operator. The system can remain airborne for up to 30 minutes from launch and is powered by an electrical propulsion scheme, this quality reducing the acoustic signature of the aircraft. Like other UASs of the Hero line, the Hero-30 features spring-loaded wings/fins and seats its twin-bladed propeller at the rear of the tubular, missile-shaped body.
Expendable "loitering munitions" have become the current call-of-the-day regarding the modern battlefield as more and more world powers (great and small) move towards unmanned systems (known generically as "drones"). The low-cost, easy-to-operate, and expendable nature (also termed "suicidal" or "kamikaze") of certain designs means these applications are employed in greater numbers than ever before - changing the modern battlefield considerably.
Other options in the Hero line include the Hero-120 short-ranged loitering munition and Hero-900 heavy-attack loitering munition.
September 2016 - It was reported that a joint deal between UVision of Israel and FirsTec of South Korea had been reached to begin marketing the Hero-30 line to South Korea.
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