“We’re not a trendy startup of Unit 8200 veterans writing code,” says Yiftach Kleinman, a colonel in the reserves from the Armored Corps and deputy CEO of SpearUAV. “The military isn’t looking to buy ‘cool’ gadgets—it wants effective, scalable solutions that work at the battalion level. We’re a seasoned company founded by veterans of Israel’s defense industry with operational IDF experience, and we’re the only ones in the country developing loitering munitions with warheads.”
This week, the company announced inking a $20 million contract with a foreign country to supply its advanced VIPER 30 loitering munition systems, with options to expand the deal to $60 million. It also reported a record year for orders, including a 10 million shekel ($2.8 million) order from the IDF.
SpearUAV
(Video: PR)
Founded in 2017 by Col. (res.) Gadi Kuperman, a former Air Force squadron commander, SpearUAV specializes in loitering munitions—autonomous weapon systems stored in capsule-like containers and launched using artificial intelligence. “We’re not attaching grenades to drones,” Kleinman explains. “A drone is a civilian tool. Our systems are designed specifically for military use.”
What is a loitering munition?
“We’ve developed a small, unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a warhead that’s launched from a 50-centimeter capsule. Its lightweight design allows it to be mounted on APCs or tanks, or even carried by soldiers. Once launched, it unfolds patented arms equipped with sensors. Using artificial intelligence, a soldier or tank crew can easily deploy it to locate pre-defined targets, such as a pickup truck with a mounted machine gun, an armed individual on a motorcycle or a fighter with an AK-47. Operators can also adjust target settings.”
“Once it identifies a target, the soldier presses launch, and it detonates on impact,” Kleinman adds. “Most of the damage comes from the metal fragments created by the explosion of the warhead. Interestingly, incidents resulting in injuries rather than fatalities can sometimes be strategically advantageous, as they draw additional enemy forces to the area, making them more vulnerable. Our UAV can fly up to five kilometers (three miles).”
Kleinman highlights the complexity of working with explosive systems. “Developing a launch-and-strike capsule requires years of expertise, particularly due to critical safety considerations. That’s why there aren’t many players in this field. We’re competing against industry giants like Elbit, IAI and Rafael, which focus on heavier munitions.”
October 7 caught the IDF guard as it pertains to drones. Are we improving? Do you have a solution against suicide drones?
“It’s a new field, and naturally, when it comes to munitions, the military is very conservative—it takes time. That said, the IDF, the Directorate of Defense Research & Development and the Defense Ministry have closed gaps quickly, and the war made us put the pedal to the metal as well.”
What new challenges has Israel had to face?
“Hezbollah is using drones with Iranian capabilities, operated by Russian expertise. Some are highly advanced, resistant to electronic jamming because they rely on image processing rather than GPS or radio navigation. These drones fly very low, have minimal thermal signatures and are difficult to detect by radar. We’re now in the advanced development stage of an interceptor drone designed to neutralize suicide drones and bomb-dropping drones.”
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“On October 7, Hamas deployed bomb-dropping drones, which are more primitive, but successfully managed to neutralize our observation systems on the border fence and the see-shoot system. There’s no single magic solution—it requires layered defenses, including electronic warfare, lasers and our interceptor drones.”
Kleinman explains that while UAVs and drones have revolutionized modern warfare, many military drones globally are modified civilian tools without encryption or secure coding. “In Ukraine, such drones are used out of necessity, but they’ve caused dozens of fatalities from accidents because, at the end of the day, they’re improvised devices,” he clarifies. “The IDF, however, already operates an active system we developed, and we are now focused on breaking into the U.S. market, with ongoing processes involving the U.S. Army.”
SpearUAV Deputy CEO Yiftach KleinmanPhoto: PRAccording to Kleinman, SpearUAV’s advantage lies in the compactness of its solutions, enabling use by relatively small units, starting at the battalion level. “We provide battalions with the ability to launch UAVs from soldiers’ backs, tanks and APCs. This is crucial since battalions lack storage space for larger drones. We realized the key differentiation was to develop systems that could also launch from any wheeled vehicle.”
How does your system utilize artificial intelligence?
“In our system, you don’t need to manually search for targets. The AI identifies them for you, displays them on the screen, and then you simply press ‘attack.’ We understood that the IDF doesn’t currently have time for extensive training, so the system had to be simple. We are also the first in the world to deploy this system from submarines. When underwater, the submarine releases the capsule, which floats to the surface and then receives commands. This is a massive breakthrough because the tool can provide submarines with actionable intelligence. Today, in scenarios where there’s concern about an anti-ship missile targeting an aircraft carrier, for example, the only way to detect it is by raising a periscope, which exposes the submarine.”