By Arie Egozi, Autonomy Global – Ambassador for Israel
Israeli defence sources assess that Russia’s new RUS-PE loitering weapon closely tracks the design and concept of UVision’s Hero-90 loitering munition. According to these sources, both systems are soldier‑portable, tube‑launched loitering munitions intended for precision strikes on ground targets.
The RUS-PE and Hero-90 share several key design characteristics, including foldable X‑shaped wings and a gyrostabilized EO/IR sensor head that supports accurate engagement of targets. The Israeli sources argue that the Russian system effectively “imitates” the Hero‑90 in its overall configuration, mission profile and general arrangement.
Russian industry data indicates that the RUS-PE offers around 30 minutes of endurance, carries a 1.5 kg warhead, and can reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. The Russian manufacturer Rostec also claims the system’s detection capabilities leverage artificial intelligence (AI) functions to support target acquisition.
UVision describes the Hero‑90 as a highly portable loitering munition that simplifies logistics and field operations while supporting anti‑tank, multi‑purpose and anti‑personnel missions. Compatible with the Common Launch Tube, the Hero‑90 can be deployed from multiple platforms, allowing integration into a wide range of existing assets and improving operational flexibility at relatively low cost.
Designed for dismounted infantry, the Hero‑90 is lightweight, can be carried and operated by a single soldier, and can be launched in less than two minutes. UVision positions the system as providing significant lethality for small tactical units operating in complex environments, giving them increased autonomy on contested future battlefields.
The Hero‑90 carries a warhead of more than 1.5 kg, enabling it to neutralize targets from soft vehicles and personnel to armored vehicles and main battle tanks at ranges beyond 40 km. By loitering over the target area, the system gives operators time for target identification, attack planning and real‑time selection of attack patterns and fuzing modes.
UVision further highlights mid‑mission flexibility, including the ability to abort an attack, re‑engage, and transfer control between Hero units or teams operating on land, in the air, or at sea. These capabilities are enabled by UVision’s ruggedized Fire Control Unit, which is common across the Hero family and supports a unified operational workflow.
The company notes that the Hero‑90’s concept of operation and performance draw on recent advances in AI, intended to enhance warfighter effectiveness by allowing operators to concentrate on mission‑critical decision‑making.
The reported similarities between Russia’s RUS‑PE and UVision’s Hero‑90 underscore the growing global competition around compact, AI‑enabled loitering munitions optimized for