UVision Unveils Eight-Tube Launcher as Starlink Friction Grows in Ukraine
UVision unveiled an eight-tube loitering munition launcher at AUSA, while Kyiv blamed Washington and SpaceX for Starlink speed restrictions affecting drone operations.
Israel has cemented its status as a global powerhouse in loitering munitions, with defense firm UVision unveiling an eight-tube remote-controlled launcher at the AUSA exhibition in the United States. The American market remains a cornerstone for UVision, which previously secured a massive $982 million single contract in the country that is currently in production and delivery phases.
The new launching system is specifically engineered for the Hero-120 model, which boasts a maximum range of 40 to 60 kilometers, a flight endurance of one hour, and a warhead weighing approximately 4.5 kilograms. The company also manufactures larger variants, most notably the Hero-1200, which carries a 50-kilogram warhead, a range exceeding 200 kilometers, and an endurance of up to 10 hours.
Starlink Restrictions Spark Friction Between Kyiv and Washington
Tensions are escalating between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amid frustrations over stalled diplomatic efforts to curb the conflict in Ukraine. Kyiv has accused Washington of throttling SpaceX terminal speeds, a move Ukrainian officials claim directly undermines military strike capabilities against Russian forces. Ukrainian authorities suspect the limitation was requested by the U.S. administration, though The Wall Street Journal revealed the directive came directly from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
The restriction, implemented on October 14, capped the ground speed of military-use Starlink terminals in Ukraine at 100 miles per hour (approx. 160 km/h) without prior notice. As a result, President Zelensky's administration reports that Ukrainian forces were forced to cancel drone missions in the Zaporizhzhia region, where terminals relay real-time video feeds to operators over distances spanning hundreds of kilometers.
U.S. Procures South Korean Artillery Systems
While the United States remains the world's leading arms exporter, accounting for roughly 42% of global trade between 2021 and 2025 according to SIPRI data, it ranks eighth as an importer with 2.9%. The U.S. recently bypassed Israeli defense offerings to award a major artillery contract to South Korea's Hanwha, which climbed to 16th place in Defense News' global rankings, surpassing Elbit Systems. The U.S. Army acquired nine K9 self-propelled howitzers under a $100 million agreement for the first six systems, with options for 12 additional units valued at $263 million.
