S859 Endresia
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| S859 Endresia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Loitering munition |
| Place of origin |  Carloso |
| Production history | |
| Unit cost | D£28,230 ($61,370) |
| Produced | 2020–present |
| No. built | >6,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead weight | 55 kg |
Operational range | 1,500 km |
| Speed | 200 km/h |
The S859 Endresia is a loitering munition in service with the Carlosian Armed Forces. It was developed in response to the widespread use of loitering munitions by less developed countries, and concerns over the high production costs of cruise missiles. It has a compound delta configuration. It boasts several notable improvements compared to similar designs, including a ducted scimitar propeller, and a state-of-the-art electro-optical and imaging infrared (IIR) cameras to aid navigation and target acquisition, allowing it to conduct nighttime operations. It also makes use of satellite navigation. Optional anti-radiation homing allows it conduct SEAD and DEAD operations. Operated from a ground control station, it does not need a specific target to be launched. Continuously searching for targets using video recognition, it will then dive towards the selected target at high speed upon being given the command. Multiple drones can be operated simultaneously, coordinating their attack. It can carry numerous warheads weighing up to 55 kg, including a fragmentated high-explosive warhead containing tungsten balls. Its fuselage is made of fibreglass and carbon fibre, giving it a radar cross-section (RCS) of approximately 0.01 m2, comparable to a medium-sized bird. It is deployed from a launcher using a rocket-assisted take-off (RATO), with the rocket being disposed of immediately following launch. Due to its low cost and slow speed, it is mainly designed to overwhelm and deplete enemy air defences with pure numbers, with hundreds and potentially even thousands of loitering munitions being used at a time.
It has spawned multiple variants, including a decoy drone stripped of all its sensors with the exception of its satellite navigation. Experimental variants incorporated LIDAR and synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) technology, however the high cost of incorporating these systems proved prohibitive. The turbo-jet powered S867, largely based on the S859 Endresia, was revealed in 2024, capable of a much higher speed of 500 km/h, though at the cost of a reduced range of 750 km.
Design
The drone is powered by a commercially available four-cylinder two-stroke petrol engine, capable of producing 50 hp at 7,500 rpm, which drives a three-blade ducted propeller. It is located to the rear of the aircraft. The scimitar configuration of the blades allows for greater fuel efficiency, particularly at higher speeds. Coupled with the ducted design, the result is that the propeller produces significantly less noise than more primitive loitering munitions. The wings have a compound delta configuration, which reduces drag. This is contrasted with the cropped delta configuration of other loitering munitions, which offset drag with wingtip stabilisers. This configuration helps to marginally reduce the RCS. The wings and fuselage are made from a blend of lightweight fibreglass and woven carbon fibre, which return a low radar signature. The electro-optical and infrared cameras are located on a gimble beneath the nose of the munition, allowing almost total vision around and below the drone. In front of the warhead is space for an optional passive radar seeker, which is used in conjunction with the IIR camera for anti-radiation operations, including the destruction of air defences and jammers. The seeker can be configured by the operator to hone in on specific bands of radio frequencies depending on the intended target.