IAI unveiled the WIND DEMON, an accurate and advanced yet affordable air-to-ground cruise missile

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), during the Farnborough air and space show, introduced the WIND DEMON, a new generation of air-to-surface cruise missiles that combines new capabilities based on years of experience in missile and loitering munition development.

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IAI’s new WIND DEMON missile offers a pragmatic response to the changing nature of warfare, based on a unique modular approach characterized by affordability, adaptability and advanced capabilities to operate in all warfare domains. It was developed following an extensive study that revealed the need for large quantities of effective ammunition and, at the same time, an affordable solution that can neutralize a wide range of targets using minimal resources at longer ranges.

Rendering of the WIND DEMON air-to-surface cruise missile. Image: IAI

Once fired from an airborne platform – such as a helicopter or patrol aircraft – the WIND DEMON follows a predetermined mission plan to reach a moving or stationary target at a distance of more than 200 km. The missile uses an advanced self-guidance system, but also offers person-in-the-loop control capabilities. This combination of capacities allows the platform to approach the enemy at low altitude from a distance, launch the missile and disengage.

Equipped with advanced day and night electro-optical and laser seekers, WIND DEMON detects, discriminates and classifies targets with pinpoint accuracy in day and night operations. Its warhead, which exceeds 20 kg, accommodates blast, fragmentation and penetration effects. Its low flight profile enhances its survivability by avoiding detection and disruption, combined with its jamming-immune navigation suite.

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Enhanced connectivity features enable real-time video streaming, person-in-the-loop control and low altitude flight throughout the mission. In addition, its selectable fast/slow/fast speed profile enables high-speed reactions and selective slow-speed approaches to points of interest.

Guy Barlev, EVP and General Manager of the Systems Missiles & Space Group said: “We see a growing market demand for effective and affordable systems that will offer attacks in mass. We designed WIND DEMON to meet this market demand and it does so by offering significant capabilities at an affordable price point that allows customers to buy the systems in large quantities.”