Elbit Systems Unveils Its New Hermes 650 Spark Unmanned Aerial Vehicle At Singapore Airshow 2024
Elbit Systems, based in Israel, unveiled a new tactical unmanned aerial vehicle called the “Hermes 650 Spark” at Singapore Airshow 2024, which took place at the Changi Expo Center from February 20 to February 25. According to the company, this new vehicle, the latest addition to the Hermes UAV family which includes the Hermes 90, Hermes 450, and Hermes 900 models, stands out with its extraordinary durability, versatility and cost-effectiveness in land, air, and sea operations.
Yoram Shmuely, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace, stated that the launch of the Hermes 650 Spark is an important milestone for Elbit Systems, adding, “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.”
According to Elbit Systems, the Hermes 650 Spark is a MALE (medium-altitude long-endurance) class tactical unmanned aerial vehicle designed to meet the changing needs of the aerospace and defense industries. Hermes 650 Spark, which has a very different design than other members of the Hermes family, draws attention at first glance due to its resemblance to a light aircraft.
Aside from its design, the Hermes 650 Spark unmanned aerial vehicle stands out from its predecessors in terms of range, flight speed, durability, operational efficiency, and load capacity. Equipped with automatic takeoff and landing (ATOL) and automatic taxi capability from short runways (less than 200 meters), the Hermes 650 Spark has a service ceiling of 6,705 meters (22,000 ft) and a cruise speed of 102 to 222 km/h (55-120 knots). The system is also capable of carrying out long missions within SATCOM range and has an extended endurance of up to 24 hours.
The new UAV, which has a payload capacity of 260 kg including fuel, features a large payload compartment on its body and eight modular storage stations on its wings. This capability enables the integration of multiple payloads, including electro-optical/infrared/SWIR sensors, radar systems, ELINT, COMINT, and SkEye WAPS™️ for Wide Area Persistent Surveillance. However, it is currently unknown if a weapon will be integrated into the system.
The Hermes 650 Spark unmanned aerial vehicle, which is currently undergoing flight tests, is expected to be ready for mass production a year from now.