Elbit Systems unveiled its new Hermes 650 Spark medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAS platform at the Singapore Airshow on 21 February.
This latest addition to the Hermes family of unmanned aerial systems beaks with tradition, featuring a tractor propeller instead of the pusher design of the earlier variants.
“The launch of our Hermes 650 Spark marks an important milestone for Elbit Systems. This cutting-edge UAS, built on decades of market leadership, underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology, and providing exceptional capabilities to our global partners,” General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace Yoram Shmuely said.
“I am confident that this new addition to our diverse and innovative aerospace defence portfolio will further solidify our commitment to advancing defense technology, ensuring security, and meeting the dynamic needs of the modern battlefield.”
According to Elbit the Hermes 650 has eight modular storage stations, including two payload bays in the fuselage and six underwing hardpoints. It is capable of being configured with multiple mission payloads, including Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), a Spectro XR electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR) system, a maritime patrol radar (MPR) and air-droppable life rafts. Total payload is 260 kg.
The air vehicle is powered by a 120 hp fuel-based engine, with a service ceiling of 22,000 feet and a 24-hour endurance, with a speed range of between 55 and 120 knots. Airfield performance includes a take off length of less than 200 metres and a maximum landing distance of 800 metres.
In development for a number of years, the Hermes 650 made its first flight at the end of 2023 and Elbit Systems Aerospace Vice President and Head of Marketing and Business Development Ziv Avni said that the company already has one customer, but he declined to name who or from which region.
“We will be ready for full serial production one year from now,” he said. “We have a number of payloads integrated, such as the EO/IR and Electronic Warfare (systems), but the main thing that drove the design was making sure it’s open enough – both in terms of the architecture, and also in terms of the payload bays and underwing hardpoints. This allows us a lot of versatility in integration of new sensors and capabilities.”
However, Avni also declined to discuss whether the aircraft has a weapons capability.