Israel is Hermes 900 UAV Launch Customer, as IDF Expands Fleets
May 02, 2010 16:02 EDT
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Elbit Systems of Haifa, Israel recently announced a 3-year, $50 million contract to supply the Israeli Defence Forces with additional Hermes 450 UAVs, as well its brand new Hermes 900 systems. The contract also includes “enhancement of [the IDF’s] existing UAS intelligence capabilities,” which presumably means sensor improvements and extensions. The award continues ongoing contracts from Israel, including a $30 million contract for Hermes 450 systems in November 2007.
A comparison with the popular Hermes 450 is instructive:
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The Hermes 450 is a common medium surveillance UAV, with a 10m wingspan, about 20 hours endurance at up to 18,000 feet altitude, and about 150 kg/ 330 pounds of payload capacity on up to 2 body mountings and optional wing pylons. It is in service with Israel as a surveillance and attack UAV, where it has reportedly been modified to carry fuel tanks, or up to 2 Hellfire or Spike missiles. It also serves unarmed with a number of international customers including Georgia, Mexico, Singapore, and the US Border Patrol; and with Britain as the Watchkeeper WK450B ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) UAV.
The Hermes 900 offers a larger platform whose 15 meter wingspan is comparable in size to the MQ-1 Predator, or to Israel Aerospace Industries’ popular Heron family. Compared to the 450, it offers a higher flight altitude of up to 30,000 feet, longer flight time of up to 30 hours, and a 300 kg/ 660 pound payload capacity that’s about double the 450’s. It incorporates an Internal Auto Takeoff and Landing system that enables auto-landing even on alternate non-instrumented runways, and has advanced features including built-in autonomous emergency procedures, Air Traffic Control radio, radio relay, and an IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) transponder. It is controlled by Elbit Systems’ Universal Ground Control Station, which can control 2 UAVs at any given time from a single station, with a single operator. Elbit release | Globes | Hermes 900: Elbit Systems | Aviation Week | Defense Update | Flight International.
Additional Readings
- Airforce Technology – Hermes 900 Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV), Israel
- Defense Update – Hermes 900
- Israeli Weapons – Hermes 900
