DSEI 2025 – Rheinmetall widens its loitering munitions portfolio with its FV-014
At the London exhibition Rheinmetall Electronic Solutions, one of the company five operational divisions, presented its loitering munitions portfolio, adding the FV-014 fixed wing system wholly developed in house to the Hero munitions for which the Düsseldorf-based group linked up with Uvision of Israel
In late 2021 Rheinmetall entered the loitering munitions field signing an agreement with Uvision of Israel for producing in Europe the Hero family of munitions. The agreement involved RWM Italia, one of the Italian branches of the group, which set up a production line in Sardinia. According to recent information a second production line should be set up in Germany.
At DSEI a scaled-down model of the Hero 120 was visible at the company stand. Beside this another air vehicle could be seen, the FV-014. EDR On-Line understood that the F stands for fixed wing, while the number is approximately the vehicle mass at launch, in this case around 14 kg.
The decision to develop in-house a new munition is linked to some marketing limitations for the Hero family, due to its Israeli origin. The dimensions of the FV-014 are similar to those of the Hero 120, however the air vehicle abandons the typical Uvision cruciform folding wings architecture, selected for increased manoeuvrability, for a more classical folding wing layout. The wings fold backward to allow the munition to fit into a launch container, two fins protruding on top and under the fuselage, while at the rear we find the cruciform empennage and the electric motor, which powers a three-blade pushing propeller.
The FV014 is booster-launched from its container, after which it deploys its wings and starts flying, the system having an over 60 minutes endurance and a 100 km range, the same of the Hero 120. It carries a 5 kg warhead of the HEDP (High-Explosive Dual-Purpose) type designed to defeat both armoured targets, it ensures a 600 mm penetration against rolled homogeneous armour, as well as soft targets, such as personnel in the open, or fortifications. The fixed wing solution was selected to allow high-speed penetration to the target area, no data being provided, leaving sufficient time for reconnaissance and decision making.
A man-portable system, the FV-014 is capable to operate in GNSS-denied scenarios and keeps of course the man-in-the-loop, the operator being able to refine targeting and to abort the mission should the need arise. According to Rheinmetall the FV-104 is capable of swarm operations.
The new Rheinmetall loitering munition is in the very final stage of development. EDR On-Line understood that it was already tested in flight, and it should be soon available on the market.
Photos by P. Valpolini
