Hermes takes flight off the UK coast
Elbit Systems announced on 11 September that its Hermes 900 MALE UAV has successfully completed a series of flight demonstrations for the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Elbit Systems UK worked with the Civil Aviation Authority and UK companies such as Inzpire and Aviation Systems Group.
The MCA ran a series of demonstration flights off the Welsh coast to test how a UAV can be used to enhance SAR capabilities. The tests also explored the use of long-range unmanned capabilities in UK civilian airspace, as Hermes 900 was able to fly advanced BLoS missions into unsegregated and uncontrolled airspace.
Hermes 900 was equipped with a SAR-specific radar and AIS, plus EO/IR payload, emergency radio beacon and full satellite communications.
Iceland and Switzerland are the only European operators of Hermes 900, according to Shephard Defence Insight.
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