UAS Hermes with life rafts

The Hermes 900 unmanned aircraft systems have been expanded to include the “maritime patrol” capability, i.e. a rescue component.

Equipped with sensors for detection and identification, inflatable rescue rafts under the wings and the ability to deploy the rafts precisely, the UAS is capable of conducting long-range maritime search and rescue (SaR) operations. A Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol flight system configured in this way was recently delivered by the manufacturer Elbit Systems to an unnamed customer in Southeast Asia.

The Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol can fly for more than 24 hours continuously and operate in adverse weather conditions, day and night. Equipped with the new SaR capability, the UAS can increase the number of SaR missions that can be safely carried out and improve the safety and effectiveness of the maritime SaR response.

The Hermes 900 can carry up to four six-person lifeboats under the wings. Survivors are detected using shipboard radar and visually identified using electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors. After calculating the drop point, the life rafts are parachuted from a low altitude (200 m) at a safe distance from the survivors and inflated during the release.

Die Hermes 900 Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAS ist seit 2015 bei der israelischen Luftwaffe im Einsatz und wurde von zahlreichen Kunden ausgewählt, darunter die Schweiz, Großbritannien, Brasilien, Mexiko und Chile, die EU und die UNO sowie Länder in Südostasien.

Gerhard Heiming

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