IDEX: The small Reach with a big future

The prototype platform is actually on show at the Edge stand, after making its first flight just two weeks ago, coming more than two years after it was unveiled at Dubai Airshow in November 2021.

According to a company official, the Hunter-S flew four times from November 7-11, with the first flight lasting around four hours. “All our objectives were met,” the source said.

Reach-S (S for small) is set to have an endurance of 24 hours and will cover both the attack and reconnaissance role.

Flights so far have only been checking the UAV’s airborne capabilities, and no electro optical/infrared (EO/IR) turret was mounted. Instead, a dummy was added to check it could fly with the additional 50kg weight.

The next step is to begin integration of the weapons.

With a 110hp engine, a maximum take-off weight of 600kgs and a communications range of 200kms, there are now aspirations to develop a larger medium-size Reach UAV, imaginatively called Reach-M, that will undoubtedly boast a longer range and the ability to carry more weapons.