Enhanced unmanned air vehicle surpasses 20,000 flight hours and supports Israel Defence Force missions over Gaza Strip
Elbit Systems has completed flight testing its Hermes 450 tactical unmanned air vehicle with a satellite communications payload and under-wing fuel tanks, as the type achieves a high operational usage rate in support of the Israel Defence Force (IDF).
Hermes 450 air vehicles have now amassed over 20,000 flight hours, including long-duration operations flown over the Gaza Strip by Elbit personnel under a contracting-out arrangement with the IDF. The 450kg (990lb) type is now accumulating hours faster than any UAV system in the world, believes Itzhak Dvir, chief operating officer for Elbit's Silver Arrow unit.
Elbit claims the Hermes 450 is the smallest tactical UAV to conduct operations equipped with a satellite communications payload, which is mounted in a pod on top of the airframe. The wideband system could provide a valuable capability during beyond line-of-sight operations of the aircraft, such as those where a UAV is required to fly at low level in poor weather conditions. The company says the installation of the Ku-band satellite communications payload had no measurable effect on the Hermes 450's flight capabilities or endurance during testing.
The integration of additional fuel tanks beneath the aircraft's wings will enable the type to achieve missions up to 10h longer than the basic fuel load's 20h maximum, but also indicates that the air vehicle could in the future be equipped with an armed capability, if required by a customer.
The Hermes 450 will form part of the UK Ministry of Defence's Watchkeeper intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capability from later this decade, with the platform to be manufactured in the UK under a teaming agreement between Elbit and Thales UK.
A contract for the Watchkeeper programme, worth roughly £800 million ($1.5 billion), is due for signature in early 2005, following Thales' selection as prime contractor earlier this year (Flight International, 27 July-2 August).
It is unclear whether the UK is interested in acquiring satellite communications equipment for the airborne element of its Watchkeeper system, which should also include Elbit's smaller Hermes 180 air vehicle. Elbit says the Hermes 450 can be operated by a team of eight personnel, with each air vehicle capable of being prepared for flight in less than 15min.
CRAIG HOYLE / HAIFA
Source: Flight International
