Elbit LANIUS

Elbit Systems · Israel · first flew 2022 · glider

The Elbit LANIUS is an Israeli autonomous loitering munition designed for urban combat, combining a multi-rotor hover capability with fixed-wing glide attack and onboard AI for target recognition.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	0.6 m fuselage
T — Tail	No tailplane

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Autonomous loitering munition UAV
0 (unmanned) — AI-enabled kamikaze drone
Quadcopter-style rotors plus fixed wings for glide attack

A very small multi-rotor drone with stub wings; too small to be confused with conventional aircraft, distinguished by its hybrid rotor/glider configuration.

Specifications

The Elbit LANIUS has a length of 0.6 m (2 ft).
It has a wingspan of 1.2 m (4 ft).
Its maximum speed is 100 km/h (62 mph).
Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Unveiled by Elbit Systems in 2022, the LANIUS (Loitering Autonomous Neutralization and Interception UAS) is designed to operate in GPS-denied indoor and urban environments. It uses computer vision and AI to autonomously identify and engage targets, and can be used as a scout or as a kamikaze munition. The system attracted significant international attention for its ethical and operational implications.

Variants

A single LANIUS configuration has been publicly disclosed; no sub-variants are documented.

Where you'll see it

Offered to the Israel Defense Forces and export customers; operational deployment details are not publicly confirmed.

Related aircraft

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