German Army Orders Rheinmetall Reconnaissance Drones for $210M
Rheinmetall will deliver Luna NG reconnaissance drone systems to the German Army for an estimated 200 million euros ($210 million).
A total of 13 systems, including a pilot system, will be delivered beginning in the second quarter of 2025.
The contract includes spares and training support.
Provides Real-Time Reconnaissance
The German Army’s reconnaissance and artillery branches will field the systems, each consisting of five reconnaissance drones, two ground control systems, two launcher vehicles, two antenna masts, a repair shop, and three transport platforms.
According to Rheinmetall, the drone was developed to provide real-time reconnaissance, classification, and recognition of objects.
“Experience gained in the war in Ukraine shows the decisive importance of real-time reconnaissance results at an operational level,” the German arms manufacturer stated.
Earlier, Berlin contracted Rheinmetall to deliver an undisclosed quantity of Lunas to Ukraine. The drones will be delivered this year.
Luna NG Features
Its modular design allows a range of mission-specific payloads such as LTE (wireless broadband communication) and electronic warfare support measures.
The HX truck-mounted NG has a takeoff weight of 110 kilograms (242 pounds) and an endurance of over 12 hours.
It can attain an altitude of 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) and a range of 100 kilometers (62 miles), scalable to 300 kilometers (186 miles) through satellite communication.
