Elbit Hermes 900
Elbit Systems · Israel · first flew 2009 · glider
The Hermes 900 is an Israeli medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. It is an enlarged derivative of the Hermes 450.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.3 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Medium-altitude long-endurance UAV
- Twin-boom tail with pusher propeller
- Inverted-V tail fins on twin booms
Identified by its twin-boom tail, pusher propeller at the rear of the fuselage pod, and straight high-aspect-ratio wings giving a glider-like appearance.
Specifications
- The Elbit Hermes 900 has a length of 8.3 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Elbit Systems and first flown in 2009, the Hermes 900 entered operational service with the Israel Defense Forces around 2012. It saw extensive operational use during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.
Variants
Variants include the Hermes 900 StarLiner with enhanced satellite communications and the Hermes 900 HFE (Heavy Fuel Engine) variant for improved logistics.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Israel, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Azerbaijan, among others; used predominantly in border surveillance, maritime patrol, and combat ISR roles.
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