10/06/2026 | Press release

The “next-generation airborne unmanned close-range reconnaissance system” (LUNA NG) is being introduced by the German Armed Forces as HUSAR (“Highly Efficient Unmanned System for Medium-Range Reconnaissance”). The drone is designed for real-time airborne surveillance, detection, and location tracking. Thanks to an ultra-light fuselage structure made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, the LUNA NG achieves a flight time of over 12 hours and a flight altitude of up to 5,000 meters.

At the Army’s Combat Training Center, seamless integration with the C2-UMS Bw command and control system has already been achieved. This integration enables the LUNA NG to operate within a modern reconnaissance and strike network—for example, in conjunction with loitering munitions.

The current order from the Bundeswehr comprises twelve standard systems and one pilot system, including a spare parts and training package. Each of these mobile complete systems consists of five reconnaissance drones, two ground control stations, two launch vehicles, two antenna masts, workshop equipment, and three transport platforms.

The complete system stands out for its outstanding logistical and operational flexibility. The compact ground station is optimized for rapid air transport via helicopter. In operation, the LUNA NG operates completely independently of runways using a cable-pull catapult and lands autonomously in a net or via parachute using differential GPS. In the operational area, minimal acoustic, thermal, and radar signatures also guarantee excellent survivability in flight.