Talk:Loitering munition

Thoughts on links to this article / categories
Maybe add links to this article from: And maybe add to these categories? Curb Safe Charmer (talk) 17:34, 26 April 2017 (UTC)
 * List of emerging technologies
 * Military technology
 * Weapon
 * Category: Military technology
 * Category: Military equipment
 * Category:Weapon development
 * I added to all three cats - they all made sense. Also added a line in Weapon. Regarding List of emerging technologies- it is currently "too emerging" - all of the emerging technologies mentioned there are in fringe use or in development with the exception of stealth, and even that is there with Plasma stealth in the lead which is not in unclassified operational use - the weapon category itself really isn't "new tech" - but more of system engineering or System integration of existing technologies (flight, remote control, warhead, sensors, etc.) into a single package geared for different type of battle field use (the same could've been said of Cruise missile or UAV - which in themselves didn't do anytihng "new" technology wise - but rather were a new useful packaging of existing technology. Loitering Munitions date back in operational use 20-35 years (depends what you take, if you use IAI Harpy as first, then towards 20) - it is an emerging category as this is a new name + has expanded out from initial mainly Israeli use to multiple manufacturers and armies - particularly in the past 5 years or so. It might be a fit in Military technology - but that article currently focuses on very high-level concepts - putting in loitering munitions there would be a sudden low-level scope in relation to other links - so I'm not sure about that one - iffy (would probably require a bit rework there - which I'm not sure is appropriate (should it develop into a list of all/most military tech?)Icewhiz (talk) 19:29, 26 April 2017 (UTC)
 * Re "the weapon category itself really isn't "new tech" - but more of system engineering or System integration of existing technologies (flight, remote control, warhead, sensors, etc.) into a single package geared for different type of battle field use" perhaps the article needs to reflect that. I don't think that distinction comes across at the moment. Maybe it needs a 'history' section? Curb Safe Charmer (talk) 09:18, 8 May 2017 (UTC)
 * Already exists - see "History: From Niche Role in Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses to General Use" (I modified the title heading now, but it was essentially a history section). Note that many weapon system innovations aren't new tech - e.g. as a case in point the Tank (see - Little Willie)at its introduction didn't introduce anything new technically (integrated essentially farm/ground machinery - tractors, existing armor (at the time - heavily used in shipping) and existing weapons) - but was rather a novel application, via system engineering, of existing technologies in a way that totally revolutionized modern combat. Contrast engineering (application of existing tech(s) to new application) vs. elementary research science. Icewhiz (talk) 10:40, 8 May 2017 (UTC)
 * I think a paragraph is needed to introduce that section which talks about the development in a summary form, something like "Loitering Munitions have been in operational use for between 20 and 35 years, depending on definition. The IAI Harpy, for example, was sold to South Korea in 1999. System engineering or system integration of existing technologies (flight, remote control, warhead, sensors, etc.) into a single package geared for different type of battle field use. Since around 2012 usage has expanded from mainly Israeli use to multiple manufacturers and armies and therefore has emerged as a separate class of weapon to UAVs." I'll leave you to work out the wording! The history section can then go on to expand on that in more detail. Curb Safe Charmer (talk) 11:27, 8 May 2017 (UTC)
 * Done. Feel free to chop up the lede a bit - might be too lenghtly / disjointed from the subsequent text.Icewhiz (talk) 12:22, 8 May 2017 (UTC)

Appropriate infobox?
Hi Wikipedians, I think the article would greatly benefit of having an infobox, but unsure which would be more appropriate? Any suggestions? Regards, DPdH (talk) 13:01, 12 April 2017 (UTC)
 * I actually tried (originally - looked at other articles + now went over all the infoboxes + many more articles), but it doesn't seem there is an infobox that really fits. Template:Infobox_weapon is too geared towards a specific weapon type and not a broad weapon class (though it is used in Sabre - the sole use I've found on a class, not sure it's right there - and more borderline since sabre is a fairly specific sword). The following are all missing infoboxes: Reconnaissance aircraft, Fighter aircraft, Bomber, Unmanned aerial vehicle, Unmanned combat aerial vehicle, Cruise missile, Ballistic missile, Sword, Morning star (weapon), Halberd, Pole weapon, Cavalry (is part of a series about war), Tank (is included in "History of the tank"), Catapult, Siege engine, Ballista (part of a series on ancient rome), Cannon (part of a series on cannon), Multiple rocket launcher, Rocket artillery, Grenade, Rifle (Does have a series of pics with evolution of the modern rifle), Carbine, Musket, Bullet, Aircraft carrier, Battleship (which is a FA!), Destroyer, Cruiser, Ship of the line, Ironclad warship, Monitor (warship), Torpedo, Aerial torpedo, Aerial refueling, Submarine.... — Preceding unsigned comment added by Icewhiz (talk • contribs) 05:23, 13 April 2017 (UTC)
 * Perhaps there should be an infobox template for "weapon class" or "general warfare concept". Probably should include period of use (excluding ceremonial use which should be addressed separately (e.g. muskets and swords still have ceremonial uses today)), military application, broad categorization of class, history of development towards first use, dating falling out of use.Icewhiz (talk) 05:27, 13 April 2017 (UTC)
 * Good points, will reassess as "B" given that no appropriate infobox seems to exist. Regards, DPdH (talk) 01:14, 15 April 2017 (UTC)

Article improvement
Hi all, got feedback (in my talk page) about my assessment, that will copy to this talk page as seems more appropriate for discussing it. Regards, DPdH (talk) 21:34, 12 April 2017 (UTC)

Hi! First off - thanks for pointing out where citations are missing - I've rectified that + added some additional photographs + expanded users. I'd appreciate if you take another look and point out what else needs improving / expansion.Icewhiz (talk) 08:33, 12 April 2017 (UTC)
 * Discussion
 * Thanks for addressing my feedback, IMHO only an appropriate infobox is missing. Reassessed against B-class criteria, "Aviation" rates "C" while "MilHist" rates "start", if no infobox is adequate should be "B" in both. Regards, DPdH (talk) 13:07, 12 April 2017 (UTC)

Suicide drone vs loitering munition
Regarding the inclusion of usage by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The sources provided say they use "suicide drones". I don't see any reliable source equating the term suicide drone with loitering munitions, so I removed it. This has been reverted with the unsubstantiated claim that they are the same. ( Hohum  @ ) 11:07, 12 May 2017 (UTC)
 * They are the same, or more accurately loitering munition encompasses all suicide drones. Suicide drone is a non technical name dor the same thing, in use in popular media but not in technical lit. The IAI Harpy/Harop have multiple references to them in popular media, including some quoted in the article, as suicide or kamikaze drones. The technical use of loitering for the category is relatively new, past 5 to 10 years I believe. In the past acquisition programs used persistent and other keywords.Icewhiz (talk) 11:14, 12 May 2017 (UTC)
 * See for instance ref 23 in article, from Washington Post referring to Harop, in title, as kamikaze drone (in reporting on use in Nagorno Karaback) while other references, more technical ones, refer to Harop as a loitering munition.Icewhiz (talk) 11:18, 12 May 2017 (UTC)
 * I understand what prompted you to remove it in the first place - popular vs technical use is not really spelled out any where, and was also missing in the article itself - so I added it as alt in top now. The Hebrew article (which I created in parallel to this one, though they have diverged a bit, will merge some more additions, both ways, in the future) also went through a suicide/kamikaze vs loitering naming discussion (though withndifferent focus, the problej there was that there were more Hebrew non technical, popular, reports using the slangnsuicide or kamikaze and not the Hebrew equivalent to loitering (which is actually "wandering" which is also used in other languages.Icewhiz (talk) 11:28, 12 May 2017 (UTC)


 * A reputable source for military nomenclature would be more convincing, rather than a newspaper - who are prone to flights of fancy. I somehow doubt military literature does equate them, since the defining attribute of a loitering munition is that it loiters, while the ones attributed to ISIL aren't described as doing so. ( Hohum  @ ) 11:41, 12 May 2017 (UTC)


 * The problem is that newspapers and other popular media use suicide drone quote often, while this is not used in the technical lit. The ISIL drones are quite similar to the switchblade, which is a proper purpose built loitering munition. The ISIL drones, when configured for loitering munition roles are described as searching for a target before a suicide strike, which is what a loitering munition does. All suicde drone usages I am aware of in popular media refer actually to loitering munitions.Icewhiz (talk) 12:16, 12 May 2017 (UTC)


 * This is not something I would usually source (and seldom do I see sourcing for alternative names in articles) - however since you requested this - I have - both for "suicide drone" and for "kamikaze drone" (mentioning alt. UAV as well) - 3-4 sources for each). More can be found making this link - but I think this is enough - in particular since this is a "popular name", and not a technical name (the use of suicide/kamikaze drone is mostly confined to non-technical publications). I left un-sourced that naming pre mid-2000s is variable - I'm not exactly sure when "loitering munition" took hold - from my recollection it is in the past 10 years - systems that today are described as such (e.g. Harpy) - in the past used variable naming mainly because they were "1 (or 3) of a kind" - and not really an established category. A number of major acquistion programs led to "loitering munition". In addition - regarding the use of ISIS - I've added a source listing this use as a loitering munition (part of a list of such uses - ISIS mentioned in the end as "homemade") - though I believe, given the wide range of sources equating "suicide drone" (popular) and "loitering munition" (technical) that prior sourcing was good enough. Icewhiz (talk) 20:04, 12 May 2017 (UTC)
 * autonomous kamikazi drone system
 * I was stationed at Ft. Bragg and was researching UAV platforms that could be used to drop leaflets in support of ground forces. I came across a system that had been developed but not fielded that used a communications shelter with a small room (approximately 3x6 feet) accessible thru a door in the back of the shelter where an operator could set the target area for each of the autonomous drones that fired through the roof of the shelter.  The rest of the shelter featured an array of approx 24 or 36 tubes facing straight up.  The drones were deployed thru a membrane in the roof of the shelter.  When launched a wing would deploy on the top of the drone and a propeller would start spinning to fly the drone to its target area.  From launch of end of mission the drone would fly to a designated loiter area and fly around for a period if it "saw" anything on the ground it would dive down and kill that target with its explosive warhead.  It was an area denial autonomous robot.  It did not use GPS (this was before the deployment of gps).  I'm guessing that because this did not allow for human adjudication of valid targets is the reason it was not fielded.  I saw this in a publication on aircraft of the world perhaps "JANEs all the worlds aircraft".  This same book also featured an entry for the schwitzer aircraft with its wierd serrated propeller.
 * I would like to obtain an accurate reference for this article I have access to internet broadband but google and duck duck go aren't showing any results.
 * I believe the shelter was an S240 or S250 shelter. Sunwukongmonkeygod (talk) 18:10, 4 April 2022 (UTC)
 * I believe the shelter was an S240 or S250 shelter. Sunwukongmonkeygod (talk) 18:10, 4 April 2022 (UTC)

Mangled reference
The following reference:

Links to:

THE ECONOMIC CALCULUS OF FIELDING AUTONOMOUS FIGHTING VEHICLES COMPLIANT WITH THE LAWS OF ARMED CONFLICT

Evan Wallach* and Erik Thomas**

THE YALE JOURNAL OF LAW & TECHNOLOGY, Volume 18

( Hohum  @ ) 11:51, 12 May 2017 (UTC)
 * Corrected. The intention originally was to ref both. However this got messed up in the initial editing (leaving a HTTP link to one, but a description to another) - both sources should be in OK now..Icewhiz (talk) 20:17, 12 May 2017 (UTC)
 * I'll note that the MS thesis is obviously of less importance than the Evan Wallach paper - it is debatable whether to include (on the upside - it is a rather in-depth look).Icewhiz (talk) 20:20, 12 May 2017 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the. —Community Tech bot (talk) 17:29, 5 November 2020 (UTC)
 * STM Kargu.jpg

Add the longest range
please add the Arash drone for Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran as probably the suicide drone with the longest range.TahaHastam (talk) 17:24, 27 December 2021 (UTC)

torpedo qualifies?
https://defense-update.com/20220316_loitering-torpedo.html Wvanbusk (talk) 14:34, 5 August 2023 (UTC)

FPV attack drones
The text has a brief mention "During conflicts in the 2010s and 2020s, conventional armies and non-state militants alike began modifying common commercial racing drones into an FPV loitering munition by the attachment of a small explosive"

I reckon, the FPV attack drones / loitering munitions should deserve a page of their own, because in the Ukrainian war they have developed away from Western conception of loitering munition, into a versitile platform that delivers any type of explosive payload to the enemy. What would you say?

LiudvikasJ (talk) 11:49, 2 May 2024 (UTC)


 * What "western conception" are you talking about? Jamming quickly became rampant in Ukraine, so many of the tactics based around commercial FPV systems don´t work anymore. And so, like with anti-tank missiles in the 80´s - wireguidance is a thing again - with 10.000 m of fibreoptic cable on drones. Calling that "versitile" is a bit of a stretch though, because it´s not. Alexpl (talk) 13:58, 2 May 2024 (UTC)
 * FPV Drones are still very widely used, yes there are jammers, but there are ways around that. there are new videos every day. i cant see much information about wire guided drones being widely used Editormammoth (talk) 15:01, 6 June 2024 (UTC)

Reassessment
I've reassessed the page as C, primarily due to unreferenced statements. There are also the issues of vague language, overcitation, and what appears to be either overcitation or poor citation by listing all of a couple paragraphs' references at their ends. –  Primium  (talk) 03:37, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Undone per discussion on my talk. –  Primium  (talk) 19:44, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

'Comparison to similar weapons' table
How valuable is the 'examples' section of this table, considering there is so much variation in the specs of different drones and cruise missiles? So many suicide drones can travel faster than the MQ-1. The first half of the table already gives a general overview of the differences. –  Primium  (talk) 20:16, 14 May 2024 (UTC)

Inaccurate descriptions / Grey areas in classification
I think this article has a few shortcomings, because loitering munition is a very specific type of munition, and many of the drones featured in the article dont actually fit that description.

For example the Ukrainian bober and other similar drones would probably not be classed as a loitering munition. they are used against static targets (airfields, oil refineries, ammo depots, etc) and the target will generally be predetermined, rather than selecting a target mid flight

There is a big grey area between cruise missile and kamikaze drone, At what point does a drone become a missile? Again using the Ukrainian long range drones as an example, right now they are using kamikaze drones with much longer ranges than any missile they have available to them, despite the article saying kamikaze drones have short ranges. Also look at the Iranian Shahed drones. A version has been developed using a jet engine instead of a combustion engine. by some definitions that would classify as a cruise missile, but its generally referred to as being a drone.

the problem is sources are hard to find for something that is relatively new and the details classified, but i think its worth taking a look at the article to see what can be improved Editormammoth (talk) 12:55, 17 May 2024 (UTC)


 * We can´t eliminate bad sources - like those dreadful news articles on the iranian drones. They call them "loitering", so we have to keep that in the article. Even if Shahed 131 & 136 are not. Alexpl (talk) 17:43, 18 May 2024 (UTC)