Provisional type-approval obtained for Rheinmetall’s LUNA NG
A notable advancement has been achieved in the journey toward full aeronautical certification for the LUNA NG unmanned reconnaissance system: the Bundeswehr Aviation Authority (LufABw) has granted provisional airworthiness certification for the Rheinmetall-developed system. This certification signifies the completion of a vital step towards the anticipated type certification.
The provisional airworthiness certificate for the LUNA NG enables this European military drone to be effectively integrated into both regular and restricted airspace. In contrast to similar systems, the LUNA NG adheres to civil safety standards, allowing it to operate beyond the confines of strictly military zones. Its compliance with rigorous aviation sector test protocols facilitates routine flights over densely populated regions in Europe, thus overcoming a key regulatory barrier and establishing new benchmarks for military reconnaissance capabilities across the continent.
Mike Schmidt, CEO of the Air Unmanned Space business unit at Rheinmetall, remarked: “Certification is conducted to the same standards as large aircraft, such as an A320. A significant challenge in this instance was the need to develop and certify critical components, including the autopilot and safety-critical navigation systems, in-house. There are currently no certified systems available on the market for tactical unmanned aerial vehicles.”
The LUNA NG’s technical readiness has been validated through extensive flight trials undertaken under civil operating licenses, completing approximately 150 flights that total around 200 flight hours. Concurrently, the initial cohort of ‘pilots and verifiers’ from the Bundeswehr has been successfully trained on the LUNA NG, ensuring that qualified personnel are poised for independent operation during training and testing phases.
The Bundeswehr is set to deploy the LUNA NG system under the designation ‘HUSAR’ (Highly Efficient Unmanned System for Medium-Range Reconnaissance). This system is specifically designed for sustained airborne reconnaissance, classification, and real-time object detection, boasting a flight time exceeding 12 hours, along with impressive long-range capabilities.
Rheinmetall continues to make significant progress toward the realization of the HUSAR system with this provisional type certificate, as efforts to secure full type certification remain underway.
