Images have emerged showing a new-generation of combat unmanned aerial vehicle or loitering munition during military exercises at the Caspian Sea.
The images, released by the AzeriDefence, show a Harop unmanned combat air vehicle developed by the MBT division of Israel Aerospace Industries and local partners.
The Harop is a loitering munition offer a relatively low-cost form of air support for ground troops who do not have the backing of manned fighter-bombers. It is a drone that can autonomously home in on radio emissions. Rather than holding a separate high-explosive warhead, the drone itself is the main munition.
According to the Israeldefense.com, the Harop features two guidance modes: it can either home in on radio emissions by itself with its anti-radar homing system, or the operator can select static or moving targets detected by the aircraft’s electro-optical sensor.
Azerbaijan is one of the three countries known to use Harop drones, alongside Israel and India.
Some source reported that Harop drones operated by Azerbaijan were used to destroy buses full of Armenian soldiers being transported to the frontline. The loitering drones were also reportedly used to destroy an Armenian command post.
