Israel wants more Hermes 900s
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has said that it expects to receive additional Hermes 900 UAS in 2017 as the fleet moves toward Full Operational Capability (FOC).
The exact number of new systems to be acquired has not been specified.
Known as Kochav in Israeli service, the Hermes 900 has been operational with the IAF since July 2014 when it undertook missions for operation Protective Edge over the Gaza strip. Since then the aircraft have completed hundreds of flight hours and shown an ‘extremely high’ success rate.
Lt Col Daniel, the commander of the UAV Squadron that operates Kochav, said: ‘The Kochav will revolutionize the world of UAVs. The platform is a base for many operational technological abilities that will be integrated and immigrate from manned to unmanned platforms.
‘We are widely occupied with the technological capabilities of UAVs. We are proceeding steadily and we recently broke the aircraft's endurance record and reached a number of hours that even the manufacturer couldn't reach.’
Manufactured by Elbit Systems, Kochav has a payload capacity of a 350kg and is designed to be able to carry a number of payloads on hardpoints under the wings. Its endurance abilities allow it to perform very lengthy, long range missions during a single sortie.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
![AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024]()
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
![Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards]()
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
![Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities]()
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.
