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.

Die Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol kann mehr als 24 Stunden ununterbrochen fliegen und bei ungünstigen Wetterbedingungen, bei Tag und bei Nacht eingesetzt werden. Ausgestattet mit der neuen SaR-Fähigkeit kann das UAS die Anzahl der SaR-Missionen, die sicher ausgeführt werden können, erhöhen und die Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit der maritimen SaR-Reaktion verbessern.

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.

The Hermes 900 Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAS has been in service with the Israeli Air Force since 2015 and has been selected by numerous customers including Switzerland, the UK, Brazil, Mexico and Chile, the EU and the UN, as well as countries in Southeast Asia.

Gerhard Heiming

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