New SM-2 loitering munition expands Serbian Army’s reach with 250 km range.

The SM-2 is intended for tactical strikes against personnel and light armoured vehicles, offering about two hours’ endurance and containerised reloads designed for mobile frontline use.

At the Partner 2025 defence exhibition in Belgrade, Serbia presented the SM-2 loitering munition, a modular system consisting of a lightweight aerial vehicle, a pneumatic launcher integrated on a trailer, and a ground station for mission control and preparation. The system is intended to provide Serbian forces with a tactical strike option against personnel and lightly armoured vehicles, and joins the wider category of loitering munitions now in service worldwide.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Loitering munitions, such as the SM-2, are defined by their ability to remain airborne over a target area, wait for an opportunity, and then strike directly with their integrated warhead. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The SM-2 is built as a modular design with relatively low system weight, combining an aerial vehicle with supporting launch and control elements. The aerial vehicle is propelled by a two-stroke internal combustion engine and relies on a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) for guidance. It can be armed with a warhead designed for operations against live force and light armoured vehicles. The ground station is the central hub for mission planning, communication, and tracking of flights, and it is also used during the preparation and functional testing of aerial vehicles before they are loaded onto the launcher. One of its workstations is dedicated to receiving data from the division commander or higher command levels, which integrates the SM-2 into existing command structures rather than leaving it as a stand-alone unit.

The launcher system was described as a pneumatic platform integrated on a trailer towed by the Zastava NTV vehicle. This launcher is capable of deploying SM-2 aerial vehicles as well as other types of compatible unmanned systems, which highlights its multi-purpose role within a wider force package. The Zastava NTV also houses operator working stations for mission control and planning, and for carrying out functionality tests before launch. To sustain operations, a FAP 2228 logistic vehicle is used to transport aerial vehicles. It carries two containers, each with eight SM-2 aerial vehicles, providing enough stock to support two launchers. This arrangement shows how Serbia intends the system to be mobile, replenishable, and suitable for repeated use in field conditions.

The SM-2 possesses a wingspan of 4.52 metres, a length of 3.15 metres, and an empty system weight of 39 kilograms. The maximum take-off weight is listed at 70 kilograms, with the construction material noted as fibreglass. It is fitted with a 16-litre fuel tank, has a payload capacity of 23 kilograms, and achieves a cruising speed of 115 kilometres per hour with a maximum speed of 142 kilometres per hour. Endurance is given as two hours, the operational ceiling as 2,400 metres, and the range as at least 250 kilometres. These figures position the SM-2 within the tactical range band of loitering munitions, offering sufficient endurance for mission loitering and distances beyond immediate frontline operations.

The SM-2’s endurance and payload indicate that it is designed for tactical engagements where mobility and resupply are critical. Its GNSS guidance system provides precision navigation, allowing it to hold over target areas while operators make engagement decisions. At the same time, the payload weight and warhead type suggest the system is limited to engaging unprotected personnel, light vehicles, and lightly armoured assets rather than hardened or heavily protected targets. The emphasis on containerised reloads and trailer-mounted launchers indicates a system tailored to operate within fast-moving or dispersed units where resupply and rapid redeployment are essential.

Loitering munitions in general are defined by their ability to remain airborne over a target area, wait for an opportunity, and then strike directly with their integrated warhead. They occupy a role between traditional guided missiles and unmanned aerial combat vehicles, with their design optimised for expendable, one-time use. These systems were first developed for anti-radar roles in the 1980s and have since expanded into multiple categories, ranging from very small FPV drones adapted with improvised explosives to larger purpose-built systems capable of flying for hours and striking high-value targets at significant ranges. Their advantages include the ability to target fleeting opportunities and avoid risking crewed aircraft, while their weaknesses include vulnerability to electronic warfare interference with navigation and datalinks, as well as interception by counter-drone measures or physical protection applied to assets.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.