Israel's SpearUAV announces 1,000 suicide drones ready to deploy around the world

SpearUAV, an Israeli defense tech company based in Tel Aviv, has close to 1,000 Viper 300 loitering munitions (LM) ready to deliver to customers around the world, the company has announced on Linkedin.

According to the company, the Viper 300 is an artificial intelligence (AI) based suicide drone that was designed for armored divisions, specialized ground forces, and tactical squads carrying out various missions - from reconnaissance and surveillance, asymmetric warfare, border patrol, homeland security, and even “the elimination of high-value targets.”

Weighing 2.8 kilograms, including capsule and payload, the suicide drone can be folded into a capsule or backpack. It has a range of five kilometers, an endurance of 20 minutes, and troops can launch the LM while on foot or from a platform.

The Viper 300’s design allows it to hover in place, and using its AI tools, provide immediate target acquisition for precise attacks. Operators can use the system after a short training period.

While the company didn’t disclose the end-users or the contracts involved, the company wrote in a LinkedIn post that “this significant milestone reflects the trust of our growing international customer base, which recognizes the operational value of SPEAR UAVs armed VIPER 300 system and its ability to deliver precise, mission-ready, and easy-to-use capability - on time and ready for use by any soldier, mounted or dismounted. Hundreds of systems a month - and counting.”

Combat proven

The company’s unique encapsulated weapons systems can be launched from the air, ground, and from the depth of the sea from submarines.

The Viper 300 is part of a broader group of systems, including the Viper 750 for naval use, and the Viper 1, which acts as an interceptor rather than striking targets. All are battle-proven, having been used across IDF corps and other militaries.

In June, Rafael and Spear announced a collaboration for another compact interceptor called the Iron Wasp, which can be launched from combat vehicles.

Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post has understood that the Viper 300 was developed with lessons learned from various combat zones, including the war in Ukraine. 

“From conflict zones like Eastern Ukraine to border regions, the VIPER 300 is an invaluable tool for capturing real-time, high-resolution intelligence without tipping off adversaries,” the company wrote on its website.

The platform’s capabilities were designed to address operational requirements that have become increasingly relevant in modern battlefield environments and provide troops with a combination of real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and precision strike capabilities, while maintaining a low operational signature.

SpearUAV was founded in 2017 in the garage of co-founder and CTO Gadi Kuperman, and CEO Yiftach Kleinman. Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen serves as chairman of the company’s advisory committee.