Hermes 650 Spark – Elbit Systems
Elbit Systems, the Israeli defense contractor, proved once again that Israel Startup Nation takes the lead in defense innovations with its new Hermes 650 tactical drone, or UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). Elbit also just signed a $600 million contract with the Australian military to supply it with “advanced protection, fighting capabilities and a sensor suite” to the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) Australia is acquiring from South Korea. Australia chose Elbit because it is Israeli.
No one should be surprised that Israel is where to cut to get cutting edge defense technologies. And UAVs, or drones, are the way of the future. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has been using drones successfully to monitor the activities of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon in recent months.
Hezbollah began launching rockets at civilian targets in Israel at the start of the Iron Swords War in Gaza. Israeli drones not only observe the enemy but they have also been used to shoot down Hezbollah rockets. Israel has also used such defensive drones in the south where the city of Eilat has come under fire from rockets launched by Houthi terrorists based in Yemen.
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The Hermes 650 is a Next Generation Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) that Elbit Systems boasts offers “outstanding endurance, versatility, and cost-effective performance across land, air and sea operations.”
The tactical UAS with Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) capabilities delivers exceptional payload capacity with increased range, flight speed, endurance, and operational efficiency. With its high payload capacity facilitated by exceptionally large payload bays, the Hermes 650TM Spark allows for multi-payload configurations without compromising flight endurance.
“The launch of our Hermes 650 Spark marks an important milestone for Elbit Systems,” said Yoram Shmuely, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace. “This cutting-edge UAS, built on decades of market leadership, underscores our commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology, and providing exceptional capabilities to our global partners.”
As for the new Australian contract, Elbit Systems signed to supply Hanwha Defense Australia for the Australian Land 400 Phase 3 Project. This project aims to deliver advanced protection, fighting capabilities and sensors suite to the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) for the Australian Army. The contract will be performed over a period of five years.
The Redback infantry fighting vehicle, a new armored fighting vehicle being developed specifically for the Australian Army by Hanwha Defense Australia, is designed to replace the M113 armored personnel carrier, which has been in service since the 1960s. The Redback is heavier and more powerful than the M113, and it is equipped with a number of advanced features.
“This milestone reaffirms our commitment to delivering advanced, mission-critical solutions to the Australian Army,” said Bezalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems. “Elbit Systems is dedicated to supplying cutting-edge defense technologies that will safeguard troops on the modern battlefield.”
