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ant consideration for KAI, especially as its Light Armed Helicopter THE FUTURE
enters production.
Loitering munitions are certainly a fast-paced
area of development, and some might even
Japan trails its neighbours in terms of unmanned technologies. call it a revolutionary period for the weapon
However, recognising the utility of armed UAVs and loitering muni-
tions, it will trial them from FY2023 and introduce hundreds from type. Apart from the obvious trend of increas-
FY2025. Because of minimal domestic investment in such technol- ing global demand for such munitions, militaries
ogies, Japan will have to import them from overseas. can expect to see a wider range of sizes and
payload classes in the future. Different sizes
allow them to be carried by individual soldiers,
India, facing the twin threats of Pakistan and China, is joining the
game too. In 2020, the Indian Army issued a request for information or launched from tactical vehicles. In fact, they
for 100 man-portable loitering munitions with a range of at least will be available for use from land, sea and air.
15km. Further, in December 2021 the MoD sought Indian vendors to
fast-track development of a prototype Medium-Range Precision Kill With UAVs and loitering munitions working in
System (MRPKS) for Indian Army artillery units. These need a 40km tandem, a new form of low-cost air combat
range, and the ability to carry an 8kg warhead and launch from a has appeared. That means precision attacks
4,000m altitude. by even small, relatively poorly funded militaries
can become a reality. At the same time, it means
WB Group established a joint venture in India in 2020, so it could there is a danger of small-scale conflicts esca-
be a contender for MRPKS. India is allegedly already a Warmate lating if loitering munitions are widely utilised.
customer, with reports that it received around 120 last year. These
will give an interim capability until Indian manufacturers get up to Loitering munitions have suddenly made tanks
speed with their own loitering munitions. and armoured vehicles feel a lot more vulnera-
ble than they used to. In fact, the psychological
This is important, because India banned the import of loitering effect of this class of weapons might prove to
munitions from 2023 onwards, solely because it wants to enhance be almost as significant as their explosive war-
indigenisation. However, this does not preclude cooperation with heads. Countermeasures include full-spectrum
overseas firms. The army successfully tested three types of indige- air defences, counter-UAV and electronic war-
nous loitering munitions at 4,500m altitude last year. The LM-0 and fare systems. Militaries will be forced to invest
LM-1 fixed-wing loitering munitions, plus a Hexa-copter carrying a more in such capabilities, as they belatedly
4kg warhead, were developed jointly by Economic Explosives Limited scramble to fill gaps in air defence umbrellas,
and Zmotion Autonomous Systems. especially for manoeuvre units.
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023 | 9