Osica (drone)
Serbian loitering munition for precision strikes against light armored targets.
The Osica is a Serbian loitering munition and small tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built for precision strikes against light armored vehicles and infrastructure. This fully autonomous system, often called a suicide drone, is designed primarily for attack missions. Its single-use warhead, derived from the M79 Osa hand-held launcher, is a guided ordnance meant to destroy ground targets with a cumulative effect. A variant, the Osica 2, can be launched from containers and is used by anti-armor units; the BOV 1 vehicle carries this version, which has a range of 25 kilometers. The base Osica weighs 7.5 kilograms, reaches speeds of 120 km/h, flies up to 500 meters in altitude, and has an endurance of 30 minutes with a range of 20 kilometers. Its warhead weighs 2 kilograms and can penetrate 500 millimeters of rolled homogeneous armor. Guidance comes from an electro-optical camera with target tracking, and operation relies on a wireless radio link. The Military Technical Institute, in cooperation with Utva Aviation Industry, developed the system. It was first shown at the 2023 Partner international arms fair and later demonstrated that same year during the Vihor 2023 exercise at the Pasuljanske Livade military training ground. The Serbian Army operates the Osica.
Quick Facts
- Aircraft Type
- Loitering munition
- National Origin
- Serbia
- Manufacturer
- Utva Aviation Industry
- Designer
- Military Technical Institute
- Primary User
- Serbian Army
- Construction Date
- 2023–present
- Introduction
- 2025
- First Flight
- 2023
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Osica was developed by the Military Technical Institute in cooperation with Utva Aviation Industry. It was first showcased at the 2023 Partner international weapons trade fair and then specifically showcased in 2023 during the Vihor 2023 exercise at the Pasuljanske Livade military training ground. The system integrates a warhead from the M79 Osa hand-held launcher onto the aircraft platform, giving it a single-use cumulative warhead designed to destroy armored targets on the ground.
The Osica 2 variant has the option to be launched from containers and is intended for anti-armor units. The BOV 1 is equipped with Osica 2, which has a range of 25 km. The drone operates via a wireless radio link and uses an electro-optical camera with target tracking function for guidance. Operators include the Serbian Army.
Reader's Guide
The Osica represents a notable development in Serbian unmanned systems, combining a proven anti-armor warhead with a small, autonomous airframe. Its design as a loitering munition allows it to patrol an area and then strike precision targets, offering tactical flexibility against light armored vehicles and infrastructure. The integration of the M79 Osa warhead leverages existing ordnance, simplifying logistics and production. The Osica 2 variant extends the system's utility with container launch capability and increased range, specifically for anti-armor units mounted on BOV 1 vehicles. The system's public debut at the Partner trade fair and its demonstration during the Vihor 2023 exercise indicate its operational readiness and interest from the Serbian Army. As a loitering munition, it fits into the broader category of suicide drones that provide a cost-effective precision strike option for modern ground forces.
Did You Know?
- The Osica 2 variant has a range of 25 km and can be launched from containers.
- The BOV 1 vehicle is equipped with the Osica 2 system.
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