MBDA Italy unveils Harpax family of loitering munitions

MBDA Italy's Harpax loitering munitions (left and centre), and the Fulgur launcher (right) displayed at the Seafuture expo in La Spezia, Italy, in September 2025. (Andrew White)

MBDA Italy unveiled the Harpax family of loitering munitions at the Seafuture 2025 expo in La Spezia, Italy, on 30 September.

Scale models of both the Harpax ‘Mini' and ‘Small' configurations were presented with designs based on the “operational needs” of the Italian Army, a company representative confirmed to Janes .

The hand- or ground-launched Harpax Mini is a quadcopter design with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 2.5 kg (inclusive of a 500 g warhead). Measuring 86×86×30 cm, the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) solution has an endurance of 20 minutes and an operational range of 5 km with a cruising speed of 50 km/h.

Meanwhile, the tube-launched Harpax Small features collapsible wings and measures 100×13×13 cm when folded. The airframe has a 25 minute endurance, 15 km range, and 200 km/h cruise speed. With an MTOW of 8 kg, the loitering munition carries a 1.5 kg warhead, the representative said.

Both products are targeting emerging requirements from the Italian Army, although the representative said additional operational needs are also emerging from the Italian Navy and Air Force.

“Harpax has been designed to perform better [in terms of] lethal capabilities, particularly against hidden threats, while minimising collateral damage,” the representative said, confirming both solutions feature electro-optical cameras and can be controlled autonomously or through “piloted FPV [first-person view]” flight modes.

The Harpax Small nosecone can also be swapped out to feature alternative payloads, including a radio frequency jammer, he added.