The American company Aeon has begun adapting Zeus guided missiles for use on Ukrainian drones. This is an attempt to combine high-precision weapons with mass drone platforms that are already actively used on the front.
The American company Aeon has begun adapting Zeus guided missiles for use on Ukrainian drones. This is an attempt to combine high-precision weapons with mass drone platforms that are already actively used on the front.
As reported by «Military», Aeon CEO Navid Tahmas spoke about the integration. According to him, the missiles are already being tested in conjunction with Ukrainian quadcopters, and the project itself is being implemented together with a large UAV manufacturer.
Zeus is a guided munition with a modular architecture that can be adapted to different types of carriers without a complete redesign. This allows the missile to be integrated not only into aircraft platforms, but also into drones that have limited payload capacity and specific launch requirements.
Aeon is particularly focused on the ODIN guidance system. It is software-defined, meaning it can change its operating parameters for a specific task: from destroying armored vehicles to striking fortified positions. This approach allows the missile to be tailored to different application scenarios without physically modifying its design.
An important factor is the price. One ammunition is estimated at about $50,000. This is cheaper than most classic anti-tank systems, which, moreover, were not created for launch from drones. In the case of Zeus, the developer immediately lays down the possibility of use from various platforms, including drones.
In parallel, Aeon is working on expanding integration. The missiles are also planned to be adapted for ground and sea unmanned systems. This direction is being implemented in cooperation with a separate Ukrainian partner.
Previously, precision missiles were mostly used from expensive carriers: aircraft or stationary launchers. The integration of such munitions into drones changes this logic: cheaper platforms are able to deliver pinpoint strikes on equipment and fortifications. This gradually lowers the threshold of entry for precision weapons and changes the approaches to their use on the battlefield.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how the Ukrainian defense company Fire Point deliberately registers its latest solid-fuel developments FP-7 and FP-9 not as missiles, but as «ballistic drones.»
