Hermes 900 | |
---|---|
Elbit Hermes 900 takeoff | |
Role | Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle |
National origin | Israel |
Manufacturer | Elbit Systems |
First flight | December 9, 2009[1] |
Introduction | 2012[2] |
Status | In service |
Primary users | Israeli Air Force Philippine Air Force Swiss Air Force |
Developed from | Elbit Hermes 450 |
The Elbit Systems Hermes 900 Kochav ("Star")[3] is an Israeli medium-size, multi-payload, medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for tactical missions. It is a successor to the Hermes 450 series of drones, one of the most widely used military drones in the world.[4]
It has an endurance of over 30 hours and can fly at a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet (9,100 m), with a primary mission of reconnaissance, surveillance and communications relay. The Hermes 900 has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft) and weighs 970 kg (2,140 lb), with a payload capability of 300 kg (660 lb).[5] Payload options include electro-optical/infrared sensors, synthetic-aperture radar/ground-moving target indication, communications and electronic intelligence, electronic warfare, and hyperspectral sensors.[6]