The Orbiter 1K, a loitering munition developed by the Israeli company Aeronautics, has recently been showcased during two military exercises conducted by the Greek Armed Forces: GORDIAN KNOT 2024 and GOLDEN SWORD 2024.
These exercises took place in the operational area of the Hellenic Army’s III Corps.
The specifications of the Orbiter 1K
The Orbiter 1K is designed for precision strikes and battlefield intelligence, featuring high-definition sensors that operate both day and night. It is also capable of functioning in GPS-denied environments. Here are its main specifications:
- WING SPAN: 2.93 meters
- MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGHT (MTOW): 13.5 kilograms
- ENDURANCE: 2.5 hours
- MISSION RANGE: 35 kilometers
- WARHEAD WEIGHT: 3.5 kilograms
- LOTTERING SPEED: 38-50 knots (70.4-92.6 km/h)
- TAKEOFF: AIR DRAGGING
- AUTOMATIC RECOVERY SYSTEM: PARACHUTE AND AIRBAG
The system can autonomously scan areas for targets, engage them, or return to base if no targets are found, ensuring operational flexibility and effectiveness.
On October 14, 2024, representatives from Aeronautics met with staff from the Hellenic Air Force to discuss the capabilities of another unmanned aerial system, the Orbiter 5.