Elbit Unveils New Tactical UAS

Elbit Systems has introduced a new tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS) called the Hermes™ 650 Spark. 

This next generation UAS boasts outstanding endurance, versatility, and cost-effective performance across land, air and sea operations.

The Hermes 650 Spark tactical unmanned aerial system is designed to meet the evolving challenges of the aerospace and defense industries. The Hermes 650 Spark expands the operational flight envelope with next-gen multi-mission capability, versatility, and survivability. 

The tactical UAS with Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) capabilities delivers exceptional payload capacity with increased range, flight speed, endurance, and operational efficiency.

This next-gen, autonomous, and digital UAS is designed to meet diverse operational needs across Air, Land, Sea, Homeland Security (HLS), and civilian applications. With its high payload capacity facilitated by large payload bays, the Hermes 650 Spark allows for multi-payload configurations without compromising flight endurance. 

Yoram Shmuely, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace, said; “The launch of our Hermes 650 Spark marks an important milestone for Elbit Systems. 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. I am confident that this new addition to our diverse and innovative aerospace defense portfolio will further solidify our commitment to advancing defense technology, ensuring security, and meeting the dynamic needs of the modern battlefield.”

The comprehensive design considerations focus on minimizing the Life Cycle Cost (LCC), ensuring cost-effective mission performance. The UAS upholds the highest standards of safety, survivability, and immunity, complemented by modern, autonomous, and predictive maintenance practices, ultimately contributing to a low Life Cycle Cost.

The Hermes 650 Spark stands out for its exceptional operational capabilities. Engineered for versatility and reliability, it excels in medium altitude long endurance aerial missions, thanks to features like automatic takeoff and landing (ATOL) and auto-taxi capability from short runways. With a useful load of 260kg, the UAS boasts eight modular storage stations, accommodating large payload bays in the fuselage and six hard points on the wings. This allows it to carry payloads up to 120kg on full fuel capacity without compromising flight endurance.

The system’s multi-payload capability integrates high-quality electro-optics (EO), radar, SIGINT, and other advanced functionalities simultaneously. It has the ability to execute long missions within SATCOM range and has an extended endurance lasting up to 24 hours.