Israel, Germany Sign Cooperation Agreement for the Development of Loitering Weapons

Representatives of the Israeli and German ministries
of defense signed an agreement to cooperate in the
development of new types of loitering weapons.
According to the agreement, Israel Aerospace
Industries (IAI) and the German Rheinmetall
Defense company (RDE) will cooperate in the
development of network-centric systems that will provide land forces
with the means for persistent surveillance, targeting and attack of
high value targets by loitering munitions.The cooperation is based
on the extensive experience IAI has gathered with unmanned
vehicles and loitering weapons, especially the Harpy and its
precision-attack derivative formerly known as Cuttlass.

RDE maintains a leading position as a provider of UAVs for
reconnaissance and surveillance missions for the German Army.
As a near term goal, the companies will cooperate in pursuance of
the WABEP precision attack stand-off weapon system project,
planned by the German Ministry of Defense. WABEP will integrate
the capabilities of the KZO UAV, developed and produced by RDE,
combined with a loitering weapon from IAI Systems, Missiles and
Space Group. RDE is also offering a counter-radar loitering weapon
known as Taifun (TARES). IAI is also cooperating with MBDA, in
pursuit of a similar program in the UK.