Israel Aerospace Industries has granted American defense technology company Palladyne AI exclusive US rights to manufacture and market three of its combat-proven loitering munition systems: the Harpy, Harop and Mini Harpy.
Under the strategic partnership, Palladyne AI will adapt the Israeli systems to American operational requirements, manufacture components and subsystems in the United States, integrate advanced autonomous capabilities and market the weapons to the US Department of War.
IAI will provide engineering assistance, technology licenses and key subsystems. The American company will establish and finance a domestic production line, enabling Washington to acquire proven Israeli technology without waiting for an entirely new system to be developed.
The Harpy family was developed primarily to locate, suppress and destroy enemy air-defense systems. The drones can remain in the air while searching for targets before striking, giving military forces both surveillance and long-range precision-strike capabilities.