Elbit Systems Ltd. announced today that its Brazilian subsidiary, AEL Sistemas S.A. (“AEL”), was awarded a contract to supply additional Hermes 900 UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) to the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira “FAB”). The contract is in an amount that is not material to Elbit Systems and will be performed over a period of 16 months. Elbit Systems is proud to be an integral part of the FAB UAS fleet’s growth roadmap. The company is pleased by the growing customer base of the Hermes family of UAS users around the globe.
The Elbit Systems Hermes 900 Kochav (Star) is an Israeli medium-size, multi-payload, medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for tactical missions. It is a successor to the Hermes 450 series of drones, one of the most widely used military drones in the world. It has an endurance of over 30 hours and can fly at a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet (9,100 m), with a primary mission of reconnaissance, surveillance and communications relay. The Hermes 900 has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft) and weighs 970 kg (2,140 lb), with a payload capability of 300 kg (660 lb).
Elbit Systems has been awarded a contract to supply a Hermes 900 unmanned air system to the Brazilian air force. The acquisition will enable the Brazilian air force to carry out joint flight operations using the new type and its in-service Hermes 450s. Both systems will be used to conduct security missions during the 2014 football World Cup, with the Hermes 900 to carry an undisclosed intelligence-gathering payload. In December 2021, the Brazilian Air Force acquires two more remotely piloted Hermes 900 aircraft.
Under the contract, the Company will supply its Hermes 900 UAS and spare parts. Over the past decade, the FAB has been operating a mixed fleet of Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 and Hermes 450 UAS to perform a range of missions including Homeland Security and deforestation monitoring operations in the Amazons. The Hermes 900 UAS has been selected to date by 12 countries, attesting to its competitive edge combining technological sophistication, reliability, open architecture and a solid growth path.
