Granta Autonomy unveils new loitering munition system

Lithuanian drone innovator Granta Autonomy today unveiled its new X-WING loitering munition system. The X-WING combines the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) of a quadcopter with the efficient, fixed-wing flight of an airplane, giving it a range of up to 50 km. This design provides front-line units with a portable, modular, and easy-to-deploy system for precision strike missions. Granta Autonomy developed the 12kg X-WING to meet the demand for loitering munitions that infantry units can deploy without specialized launch equipment. Designed to be a “shooter” to Granta’s “sensor” Hornet XR reconnaissance drone, the X-WING also uses artificial intelligence (AI) for autonomous flight, even when GNSS or GPS signals are unavailable or spoofed.

The X Wing system integrates Granta Autonomy’s robust micro gimbal systems, which feature powerful cameras that capture clear daytime images from long distances and provide thermal vision for nighttime operations. Granta’s Datalink solution ensures compatibility with most ground control station software, and an AI-based targeting system can help guide the UAV to heavily camouflaged targets. The X-WING carries a 4kg hybrid warhead, which was chosen for its versatility. It can penetrate heavily armoured vehicles while also producing a large number of fragments, making the UAV effective against softer targets like radars and anti-aircraft systems.

Gediminas Guoba, CEO and Founder of Granta Autonomy, said: “The X-WING is a direct result of our battlefield-tested philosophy. We’ve taken the lessons learned from providing thousands of drones to the front lines in Ukraine and used that invaluable experience to create a sister system to our Hornet XR recon drone that is ideally suited for modern combat. The X-WING’s unique VTOL-fixed-wing design gives it the tactical flexibility that units need, while its AI-powered autonomy and robust data systems ensure mission success in the most challenging electronic warfare environments.

“Like all Granta products, X-WING, from the first sketch, was designed for highly scalable manufacturing, allowing the UAV to be produced in thousands per month. We’re proud to bring a system to the market that is a battle-field proven, reliable, cost-effective force multiplier for allied forces.”

Founded in 2015 by Lithuanian engineers Gediminas Guoba and Laurynas Litvinas, Granta Autonomy specializes in unmanned aerial systems and related technologies. The company’s technology is developed as part of Lithuania’s broader initiative to enhance its defence capabilities and support allied nations.

Granta Autonomy has profoundly impacted the war in Ukraine by supplying thousands of FPV and reconnaissance drones. The company stands out for creating highly capable drones that not only meet military needs but also withstand the intense electronic warfare at the front lines. To ensure their systems are effective and offer a strong price-to-value ratio, Granta’s engineers and Ukrainian military units that operate the drones regularly test them together on the front lines.

Today, Granta Autonomy supplies forces across Europe with its UAVs, while also providing its proprietary Datalink solution and reconnaissance gimbals to a range of partners. The X-WING project follows the company’s earlier development of its UAV range, including the Granta GA-10FPV-AI quadcopter and the Hornet XR reconnaissance drone.

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