The Hermes 450 is operated by the
accompanying Hermes Universal Ground Control System (UGCS) which allows the
flight crew full control over all integrated Hermes 450 systems. As such, the
crew can interpret all incoming imagery and data in real-time and react
accordingly, often times in conjunction with other ground elements. The Hermes
has become a proven and highly versatile defense package that can be modified
to suit the mission need. It features a gimbaled electro-optical payload that
can accept reconnaissance and surveillance equipment as needed. Elbit states
that their Hermes 450 has accumulated some 65,000 hours of flight in its short
history, already having seen active service in several combat environments.
The Hermes 450 is an Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV) of Israeli origination, part of the growing family of Hermes
"Unmanned Aircraft Systems" (UAS) including the Hermes 90 up to the
Hermes 1500. She falls under the Elbit Systems branding and is designed for
tactical long endurance sorties. The Hermes 450 is primarily utilized as a
reconnaissance, communications and surveillance platform by the Israeli Air
Force (IAF) but an armed version is thought to exist operationally. Several
nations with growing interest in showcasing UAVs have either evaluated, leased
or purchased the Hermes 450 system, those including the United States, United
Kingdom, Singapore and Brazil.
Israel is the primary and,
appropriately, the most quantitative operator of their Hermes 450 UAV system.
An entire squadron of such vehicles has been formed and the air force has gone
on to arm their Hermes 450 family (though the IAF has not officially confirmed
this). As with American UAVs, Israeli UAVs - if armed - are thought to make use
of the "Hellfire" anti-tank missile most synonymous with the
tank-killing Apache helicopter, of which the Israelis operate in some number.
The Hermes 450 has seen extensive action over the Gaza Strip and in the
relatively recent 2006 Lebanon War, currently maintaining active operational
status within the IAF ranks. In early 2009, Hermes 450 systems are said to have
participated in a pair of airstrikes launched against Sudan in an effort to
control the flow of Iranian arms into the Gaza Strip.
Structurally, the Hermes 450 follows
in line with other contemporary UAV designs (it shares an outward similarity to
the American Predator series). The fuselage is long and tubular in shape,
containing the required guidance system, payload suites and internal guidance
controls. The undercarriage consists of bow-legged structure mounted amidships
holding single-wheeled main landing gear legs while the steerable nose landing
gear (single-wheeled) is held well ahead in the design, just aft of the nose
cone. The undercarriage is completed static and does not retract when in
flight. The available optics suite can be seen protruding from its blister
housing along the fuselage centerline ahead of the wings. The wing assembly
sits atop a short support structure and is straight in design (featuring little
in the way of sweep) with cranked wing tips. The wings sit just aft of
amidships. The empennage is made up of a "vee-shaped" slanted wing
structure, these fins doubling as both the rudder and stabilizer. The Hermes
450 wingspan is listed at 34 feet, 5 inches while her length is 20 feet. Gross
weight is in the vicinity of 1,000lbs.
Power is supplied from a single,
compact UEL R802/902(W) series Wankel four-stroke cycle rotary engine
delivering 52 horsepower to a two-bladed propeller. Wankel engines have been
fitted to UAVs, cars (civilian and race types), watercraft and even hand-held
power tools. The powerplant provides the Hermes 450 with a range of 124 miles
and a listed endurance time of approximately 20 hours. Rate-of-climb is
reported to be around 900 feet-per-minute with a maximum speed listed at 109
miles per hour, cruise being equal to 81 miles per hour.
Brazil ordered some 15 total Hermes
units to assist in their ongoing urban drug wars. It is currently evaluating a
collection of Hermes operationally for the army and navy for the period not to
exceed one year. In 2007, Croatia received at least two Hermes 450 systems.
Similarly, the Mexican government received an unknown number of Hermes 450
examples in 2009. Singapore has made it known that it acquire the Hermes 450 to
add to its growing list of operational UAVs.
Georgia has actively fielded the
Hermes 450 in the skies above the disputed Abkhazia region. The breakaway
republic of Abkhazia is recognized by some countries (including Russia) as an
autonomous nation while others (including the United States) consider it to be
a part of Georgia proper. It borders the Black Sea and thus gives it a
strategic value in the region. However, in 2008, at least three (perhaps as
many as seven) Hermes 450 systems belonging to the Georgian Air Force were shot
down during the period of March 2008 to May 2008 (either by Russian or
Abkhazian forces). The overflights were seen as a direct violation of the 1994
"Agreement on a Cease-Fire and Separation of Forces" (also known as
the "1994 Moscow Agreement") signed by both parties and witnessed by
the United States and Russia.
The United Kingdom operate the
Hermes 450 UAV as part of an artillery regiment of the British Royal Army (32nd
Regiment Royal Artillery). The system has seen active participation in British
involvement throughout the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, the
UK variant does not include provision for the fitting of armament but does make
use of an integrated laser gyroscope for inertial navigation. An upgrade to the
Hermes 450 program, falling under the project name of "Watchkeeper",
is slated to replace the older 450-series with the improved "Hermes 450
B" model (be known in the British inventory under the designation of
"WK450"). This newer Hermes is said to wield all-weather capability
and a reinforced structure for the rigors of an active battlefield environment
as well as Ground-Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) and dual electro-optical
payloads. Replacements are scheduled to begin sometime in 2010.
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