The RAM UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle ) is a high precision loitering munition developed by Defense & Electronics Technology Company (CDET) LLC, and in partnership with SpetsTechnoExport. The RAM UAV is meant to search and attack air defense batteries and armored targets to be located in the target area on land or at sea. RAM UAV carries up to 3 kg warhead and engage most targets on the battlefield. It has utilized advanced computer vision algorithm to track target based on visual feed from integrated EO camera. It is cost-effective and high power solution for combat missions. The UAV RAM has been tested in real-world combat scenarios as part of the Joint Forces Operation (renamed from Anti-Terrorist Operation as of 1 May 2018) against Russian military aggression in Eastern Ukraine, and showed very high immunity against enemy jamming attempts.
The RAM loitering munition has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 8 kg and measures 1.78 m long and with a 2.3 m wingspan. An electric motor enables it to stay aloft for up to 40 minutes at cruising speeds of up to 70 km/h, although it can reach a maximum speed of 150 km/h when engaging a target with its 3 kg warhead. Propelled by a low acoustic signature electric motor, the RAM UAV can covertly attack by surprise, even from a short distance from the target. Launch is catapult assisted. The drone takes only 10 minutes to go from unpack to launch. It can stay aloft for up to 40 minutes, which is quite enough to get a target detected and destroyed by lethality.
The RAM UAV kamikaze drone is built with extensive use of composite materials, which its designer claims makes it very low-observable to enemy air defenses. The RAM UAV has an integral flight controller capability which supports the functionality that includes autonomous preprogrammed flight, live video streaming, and guiding the munition to a target once it is located. SpetsTechnoExport claims that these munitions can engage targets out to a maximum distance of 30 km with a circular error probable (CEP) under 2 m. SpecTechnoExport is promoting RAM UAV for export. It is cost-effective and high power solution for combat missions.
The munition comes with three options for warhead depending on the types of targets to be attacked:
– thermobaric warhead will be used to defeat enemy personnel sheltered in buildings and fortifications, and to destroy light armored vehicles with crews and infantry passengers;
– High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead will be used against armored targets on land or at sea;
– High Explosive Fragmentation (HEF) warhead will be used against personnel targets encountered in open-area engagements.
