An unnamed NATO member has ordered several hundred HERO loitering munitions from Rheinmetall, with deliveries beginning in early 2026. Production will occur in Italy through RWM Italia with UVision support, and includes upgraded anti-tank warheads. The contract, in the low three-digit-million-euro range, reflects rising demand for precision suicide drones. HERO 30 is optimized for infantry operations, while HERO 120 and 400 offer larger, longer-range strike options for armored and fortified targets. Rheinmetall’s Italian plant is operating at maximum capacity. Hungary was one of the earliest buyers in 2023 and has since integrated HERO systems with its Lynx IFVs, deploying HERO-30 operationally in 2025.
