The Hunter 2-S is an autonomous aerial loitering munition developed by Halcon, a guided weapon systems provider and a subsidiary of the United Arab-Emirates (UAE)-based defence conglomerate EDGE Group.
The autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) utilises advanced AI to execute coordinated missions within a swarm, making it a formidable asset in modern warfare scenarios.
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The swarming drone is part of the Hunter series, which comprises a range of fixed-wing loitering munitions tailored for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and aerial strike missions.
The series includes the Hunter 2-SJ, the Hunter 5, the Hunter 10, the Hunter-N and the Hunter 2-S, each designed to meet specific operational requirements.
The Hunter series represents advanced solutions that align with the UAE government’s Industry 4.0 and Make it in the Emirates initiatives.
Hunter 2-S autonomous aerial loitering munition design and features
The Hunter 2-S autonomous system has a length of up to 1.5m and a wingspan of up to 2.2m. It has a maximum takeoff weight of up to 13kg and a payload capacity of up to 2kg.
The swarming drone can fly for a total of 45 minutes and has a cruising airspeed of 25m/s.
The drone has an operational altitude of 500m, a communication range of up to 50km and is equipped with an electric engine.
The Hunter 2-S can be launched from the HUNTER 2-S tube launcher from an elevation of up to 45°. The maximum launcher mass is five tonnes.
The launcher can be integrated with an armed or artillery vehicle to launch 21 drones within 60 seconds. A 20ft standard ISO twist lock interface is used for the launcher.
Control and operational capabilities of Hunter 2-S swarming drone
Equipped with advanced AI capabilities, the Hunter 2-S drone autonomously navigates to target areas and scans for potential threats. After identifying a target, a remote pilot designates the target and initiates engagement using man-in-the-loop control.
The drone’s ability to follow flight plans, coordinate with other drones in a swarm and neutralise targets accurately makes it a valuable asset for frontline forces operating in challenging battlefield environments.
It enables the effective location, tracking and precise neutralisation of soft targets, light vehicles and armoured vehicles from secure distances.
Hunter 2-S on the THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle
Milrem Robotics, the robotics and autonomous systems developer under EDGE Group, revealed that the THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) was integrated with the Hunter 2-S swarming loitering munition in September 2023.
The integration aims to enhance the autonomous capabilities of the THeMIS UGV.
Units can deploy the THeMIS UGV equipped with Hunter 2-S drones closer to enemy lines, which enables them to quickly engage targets or venture deeper behind the lines to locate suitable targets.
Designed for diverse military operations in challenging or inaccessible environments, THeMIS combat vehicles can be customised for roles such as reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, communication relay, logistics support, search and rescue, firefighting and medical evacuation.
Hunter 2-S swarming drone orders
In February 2023, Halcon secured a contract valued at Dh1.1bn ($299.4m) to supply the UAE Armed Forces with Hunter 2-S (swarming), Hunter 5 and Hunter 10 loitering munitions.
Hunter series loitering munitions
The Hunter 2-SJ loitering munition is engineered for detecting and neutralising electronic warfare systems.
The Hunter 5 and Hunter 10 are loitering munitions that provide aerial strike capabilities against designated targets up to 100km away from the launch point.
The Hunter-N loitering munition is engineered for tactical naval operations, delivering rapid strike capabilities against naval targets up to 30km away from its launch point.
