The category of "Loitering Munition" continues to grow as new, accelerated designs are pushed to market at blinding speed. Longtime defense player Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has recently unveiled its latest contribution through its "Point Blank" all-in-one loitering munition system. The airborne expendable Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) features a range out to 10 kilometers while flying at speeds of 80 meters-per-second and weighs just 7 kilograms. At 1 meter in overall length, the product is transportable by ground forces to where it is needed most. In operation, the product has a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability, giving it qualities of a rotorcraft as well as a fixed-wing aircraft.
The system is marketed to both land armies as well as naval forces.
The basic overall design of the unit sees a missile-like body mated to an X-pattern wing mainplane arrangement. The wings are positioned just ahead of midships and stabilizing fins are seated aft. Each mainplane has a shrouded propulsion system attached to its wingtip, giving the unit the needed VTOL capability. As a loitering munition, the entire unit is expended upon contact with the target.
The hand-launched quality of the Point Blank system allows for maximum tactical versatility in combat zones, particularly in urban settings. Key to the Point Blank's design is the ability to return to the operator / launch point if the loitering munition remains unspent. A single operator is all that is needed in the operational pipeline of the Point Blank system.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Special Forces
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.
✓Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.
VERTICAL TAKE-OFF / LANDING (VTOL)
Series has a tactical capability to take-off and / or land vertically, a quality commonly associated with helicopters.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.
UNMANNED OPERATION
Design features ability to fly sans pilot, actions controlled onboard through programming and / or ground-based operator.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.
Length
3.3 ft (1.00 m)
Width/Span
2.6 ft (0.80 m)
Empty Wgt
11 lb (5 kg)
MTOW
15 lb (7 kg)
Wgt Diff
+4 lb (+2 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base IAI Point Blank production variant)
quadruplane / mid-mounted / special
Quadruplane
Design utilizes a quadruple-plane wing arrangement in which four mainplane members are used to generate lift while enhancing turning / agility; a less popular evolution of the biplane / triplane.
Mid-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted along the midway point of the sides of the fuselage.
Special
Planform relies on a special shape that may be unique to the aircraft or sparingly used in aviaton.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the base IAI Point Blank production variant)
Installed:
Not Available.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base IAI Point Blank production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
1 x 2 kilogram payload.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
Point Blank - Base Series Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Israel (possible)
