Elbit Systems Ltd. (“Elbit Systems”), announced that it was awarded a contract valued at many  tens of millions of dollars, to supply a Latin American customer  with a mixed fleet of Hermes^® 900 and Hermes^® 450 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The contract will be performed over the next two years.

The contract includes Universal Ground Control Stations (UGCS) and a variety of payloads and capabilities including: the Electro-Optics Elop Division’s advanced payloads systems, the Elisra Division’s intelligence COMINT systems, SAR/MPR multi mode radar and additional sensors.

Hermes 450^® is a unique Elbit Systems development and has been the back bone of the IDF’s operational UAS activity. The Hermes^® 450 UAS have been used extensively in defense forces worldwide, including in active war zones, and have accumulated over 300,000 operational flight hours. The Hermes^® 900 UAS builds on the vast operational experience accumulated by the Hermes^® 450. It offers a range of enhanced capabilities, from higher flight altitude (30,000 ft) to longer endurance and heavier weight payloads. The system’s unique structure enables it to carry a variety of payloads in various shapes and sizes for quick “conversion” between payload configurations.

Elad Aharonson, Elbit Systems UAS Division General Manager commented: “We are  proud of the customer’s decision to acquire a combined array of Hermes^® 450 and Hermes^® 900, joining several other Hermes^® 900 customers, including the Israeli Defense Forces.”. Aharonson added: “Hermes^® 900 is well positioned as a world-leading UAS, suitable for a wide variety of missions, from intelligence gathering, to perimeter and security missions. The unique capability of joint operation with the Hermes^® 450 offers seamless integration for existing users, further enhancing operational flexibility and cost effectiveness and eliminating the need for additional infrastructure or special training programs”.

Elbit press release