Rheinmetall Luna NG drone receives provisional military airworthiness certificate

Rheinmetall AG has announced that its Luna NG unmanned aerial reconnaissance system, also known as the HUSAR project, has received a provisional military airworthiness certificate from the Luftfahrtamt der Bundeswehr (LufABw).

This certification marks a significant milestone toward full type certification. Unlike many comparable systems, the Luna NG meets civilian safety standards, which allows it to be integrated into regular, restricted airspace. This capability enables the drone to operate over densely populated European territories rather than being limited strictly to military zones.

The system was originally ordered by the Bundeswehr in 2023 to support reconnaissance units within the German Army. The Luna NG platform is designed to meet the same rigorous standards as large commercial aircraft, such as the A320, involving the internal development and certification of critical components like autopilots and navigation systems.