Elbit Systems Hermes 90

Elbit Systems · Israel · first flew 2010 · reconnaissance aircraft

The Hermes 90 is a compact tactical UAV from Elbit Systems, occupying a niche between man-portable mini-UAVs and full MALE systems. It provides persistent ISR capability that can be transported and operated by small ground units without dedicated airfield infrastructure.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	3.9 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Israeli mini-MALE tactical UAV
Twin-boom pusher configuration
Compact enough for vehicle transport

Slender high-wing twin-boom UAV with a rear pusher propeller driven by a small piston engine; smaller than the Hermes 450 but sharing the same family's clean, practical lines and bulged EO sensor nose.

Specifications

The Elbit Systems Hermes 90 has a length of 3.9 m (13 ft).
It has a wingspan of 8.1 m (27 ft).
Its maximum speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed in the late 2000s as a complement to Elbit's larger Hermes 450 and 900, the Hermes 90 was designed to meet demand for a lower-cost, more deployable surveillance platform. It shares sensor and ground-control-station architecture with its larger siblings, simplifying operator training.

Variants

Variants include maritime patrol and communications-relay configurations; the basic airframe accommodates modular payload pods for EO/IR, SAR, or SIGINT sensors.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the Israel Defense Forces and exported to multiple customers in Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific; it has seen operational use in border surveillance and counterterrorism roles.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.