. announced that it was awarded a contract, valued at approximately $50 million, to supply Hermes 900 Unmanned Aircraft Systems to a governmental office of a country in the Americas.
The UAS will be operated in a variety of perimeter security missions. The project will be performed over approximately one year. The UAS will also include systems such as the Universal Ground Control Stations (UGCS), Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop’s highly advanced DCoMPASS payload systems, as well as satellite communication systems.
The Hermes 900 UAS builds on the vast operational experience accumulated by the Hermes 450, the backbone of the Israel Defense Forces’ UAS operations. Hermes 900 offers a range of enhanced capabilities, from higher flight altitude (up to 30,000 ft) to longer endurance and larger payload capacity. The system’s unique structure enables it to carry a variety of payloads in different shapes and sizes for quick “conversion” between payload configurations.
Elad Aharonson, General Manager – Elbit Systems UAS Division, commented: “We are very proud that yet another customer has selected the Hermes 900, following orders by the Israeli Defense Forces and Chile”. Aharonson added: “Hermes 900 is establishing its position as a world-leading UAS for intelligence missions, as well as perimeter and security missions. An added value is the unique advantage of the common ground control station for both the Hermes 900 and the Hermes 450 array, allowing enhanced operational flexibility and cost effectiveness.”
The contract includes the capability of SATCOM. This advanced capability is extremely important for a UAS in the Hermes 900’s category, as it significantly broadens the flight mission from operations with Line of Sight (LoS) using a ground control station and LoS communications to flight missions in which the UAS takes off from its main base and continues to extended missions in very long ranges, enabled thanks to the large fuel tank and the increased takeoff weight. For example, a UAS such as the Hermes 900 with flight endurance of more than 30 hours, can, with the use of SATCOM, drastically extend its flight range from 300 km to 2000 km. In addition, SATCOM enables to launch the UAS from a launch and recovery site in theatre and to control the mission from a station in a remote and convenient location.
Another significant advantage of SATCOM is the ability to fly at very low altitudes, without the limitation of LoS obstruction caused by topography, as there is no need for line of sight between the UAS and its ground control station.
In order to implement this capability, Elbit Systems uses a cutting edge SATCOM system that combines highly advanced technologies, increasing band width efficiency, thus assuring maximum cost effectiveness for its customers.
Source: Press Release