[Video] Autonomous flight up to 2,000 km without GPS… Buddhist attack drone ‘Iripi’ unveiled

(Seoul = Yonhap News) French defense startup Harmattan AI has unveiled the long-range autonomous attack drone 'IRIFI', designed to fly up to 2,000 km and strike targets.

According to Defense Blog, an American military media outlet, Harmattan AI announced the concept and main performance of Eripi on its website on the 6th (local time).

Iripi was developed to strike ammunition depots, munitions factories, airfields, command posts, and logistics bases far from the front line. It is a disposable weapon system that does not return to base after completing an attack mission.

It is operated in a sealed launch tube of a mobile vehicle and has a maximum range of approximately 2,000 km. An internal combustion engine is used as the power source, but the aircraft size, speed, flight altitude, warhead type and weight have not been disclosed.

The biggest feature is the autonomous flight function that does not rely on satellite navigation devices.

IRIPI is designed to continue its mission using its own navigation system and sensors and information processing equipment mounted on the aircraft even in situations where satellite navigation signals are cut off or radio waves are jammed by the enemy.

After approaching the target, the final flight path is adjusted using an image-based guidance device. Harmattan AI explained that Iripi flies at a low altitude to avoid radar detection and can hit targets with an accuracy of within a few meters (m).

However, this does not mean that the drone decides on its own which target to attack. When the commander sets the target, flight area, and mission conditions before launch and approves the attack, Iripi flies within the designated range without human control.

Harmattan AI explained that artificial intelligence supports commanders by analyzing large quantities of satellite images, and that one commander can operate dozens of attack missions simultaneously. It was designed with large-scale attacks in mind, deploying multiple units at once to pressure the enemy's air defense network.

The company said it is aiming for a weapons system that is more accurate than cheap disposable attack drones but easier to operate in large numbers than expensive cruise missiles.