A New Generation of Affordable Air-to-Surface Cruise Missiles
An artist’s rendering of IAI’s Wind Demon missile, unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show on July 23, 2024. (IAI)
FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW 2024
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has introduced the Wind Demon, a new lightweight and cost-effective air-to-surface cruise missile designed to meet the increasing market demand for mass-attack capabilities.
Guy Bar Lev, Executive Vice President and General Manager of IAI’s Systems Missiles and Space Group, emphasized the significance of affordability in modern warfare. “We see a growing market demand for effective and affordable systems that will offer attacks in mass,” Bar Lev stated.
Describing the Wind Demon as a new generation missile, Bar Lev highlighted its advanced capabilities, which are a culmination of years of experience in missile and loitering munition development. The missile is intended to provide an accurate and economical response to the evolving nature of warfare.
The Wind Demon weighs 140 kilograms (308 pounds) and has a range exceeding 200 kilometres (124 miles). It can be launched from various aerial platforms, including helicopters and warplanes. The system is equipped with laser-homing seekers and electro-optics, enabling day or night operations, as well as automatic target recognition.
IAI also pointed out the missile’s enhanced connectivity features, which include real-time video transmission, person-in-the-loop control, and low altitude hold throughout the mission. Its selectable fast/slow/fast speed profile allows for rapid reactions and controlled slow approaches at critical points.
The missile’s warhead, weighing over 20 kilograms (44 pounds), is versatile and can be adapted for blast, fragmentation, and penetration effects. Despite being smaller than other notable Israeli missiles such as the Popeye and Gabriel systems, the Wind Demon stands out for its affordability and capability to be deployed in large numbers.
IAI underscored the importance of affordable mass munitions, referencing the current conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, which have demonstrated the necessity for large quantities of diverse munitions. The Wind Demon aims to offer a cost-effective solution to this need, capable of targeting air defence systems, radars, and moving targets on the ground.
In conclusion, the Wind Demon represents a significant advancement in affordable and effective air-to-surface cruise missile technology, promising to reshape the landscape of modern warfare with its mass deployment capabilities.
