EMT Luna X-2000

{{Short description|German unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle}}

Image:91+02 German Army EMT LUNA UAV ILA Berlin 2016 05.jpg]]

Image:LUNA camera detail.jpg

Image:Luna x-2000-control-unit.jpg

Luna X 2000 is a German unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle in service with the Bundeswehr (German Army) and produced by EMT Penzberg of Germany.

Image:LUNA German UAV.jpg]]

It is intended for close reconnaissance (over the hill, up to {{convert|65|km}} away), transmitting live video data (visual or infrared) or taking higher resolution still images, but it can also perform other tasks such as particle sampling, ESM/Electronic countermeasures (radio/radar jamming), depending on its payload.

The UAV is launched with a simple bungee catapult and then follows a preprogrammed course, that can be altered in flight if necessary. After its mission it automatically lands with the help of a parachute and impact dampers.

Luna X UAVs are in use by German KFOR forces since 2000 and were also used by German troops in Afghanistan.

In mid-2009 the German Army ordered another 4 systems with a total of 40 UAVs.

The Pakistan Navy signed a contract on the 27 June 2012 with EMT for purchase of LUNA UAV Systems.{{Cite web|url=http://www.suasnews.com/2012/06/17197/luna-uas-for-pakistan-navy|title = Luna UAS for Pakistan Navy|date = 29 June 2012}}

Houthi fighters reportedly shot down a Luna drone operated by Saudi Arabia, where they are produced under license, in Yemen around February 12, 2019.{{cite news |first=Jeremy |last=Binnie |date=February 14, 2019 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |url=https://www.janes.com/article/86394/german-made-uav-crashes-in-yemen?from_rss=1|title=German-made UAV crashes in Yemen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215142911/https://www.janes.com/article/86394/german-made-uav-crashes-in-yemen?from_rss=1 |archive-date=2019-02-15 |quote=The Yemeni rebel group Ansar Allah (Houthis) released a video on 12 February showing a Luna unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that it said was shot down near the Saudi border.}}

In 2019 the German Army began the replacement of Luna and Rheinmetall KZO with the new Luna NG, which has much increased capabilities.

In April 2023, Rheinmetall unveiled plans to develop a drone carrier based on the Luna NG that acts as a mothership to carry and deploy up to eight rotary wing loitering munitions in order to deliver them beyond ranges they would be capable of traveling themselves.[https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/2023/05/04/rheinmetall-pitches-unmanned-mothership-full-of-tiny-attack-drones/ Rheinmetall pitches unmanned mothership full of tiny attack drones]. Defense News. 4 May 2023.

On 14 August 2023, Rheinmetal announced it will supply the Luna drone to Ukraine in 2023.{{cite web |url= https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/rheinmetall-supply-ukraine-with-luna-drone-system-this-year-2023-08-14/ |title= Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with Luna drone system this year |date=2023-08-14 |publisher=Reuters| author= Anastasiia Kozlova|author2= Amir Orusov}}