Successful Maiden Flight for Elbit Hermes 900 UAV

Serial production of the UAV will commence shortly, following completion of additional test flights

The new Hermes(r) 900 builds on the rich operational experience of the Hermes(r) 450, offering additional capabilities such as flight altitude of over 30,000 ft, long endurance, large payload capacity (up to 300kg), modular design allowing fast payload replacement and flight capabilities in adverse weather conditions

(Haifa, Israel, December 14, 2009) -- Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT), announced today that its Hermes(r) 900 UAV completed a successful Maiden Flight and will commence serial production following the completion of additional flight tests.

The Hermes(r) 900 is based on the successful track record of the Hermes(r) 450, that has accumulated over 170,000 flight hours and is one of less than handful of UAVs in the world to cross the 100,000 operational flight hour's barrier. The new Hermes(r) 900 offers additional key capabilities, such as longer endurance, flight altitude of more than 30,000 ft, large payload capacity (up to 300kg), modular design allowing fast payload replacement and flight capabilities in adverse weather conditions.

Hermes(r) 900 offers an advanced satellite communication channel and is operated from Elbit Systems' universal command & control ground station (UGCS), enabling advanced mission management, automatic taxiing, autonomous flight and automatic takeoff and landing systems common to all the UAVs and in the Hermes(r) family.

The Hermes(r) 900 also includes innovative avionics and electronic systems and a silent engine, as well as systems required for flight in a combined civil and unmanned aviation area. The new UAV offers additional cutting edge technologies and applications such as electro-optic systems, laser designators and electronic intelligence sensors (ELINT, COMINT).

Haim Kellerman, Co-General Manager of Elbit Systems UAS Division, noted that the Hermes(r) 900 broadens out the Elbit Systems UAS portfolio, offering customers a variety of mission capabilities, from the mini-UAV system designed for the soldier level, through battalion-level UAVs, and up to higher chains of command for both Armies and Air Forces. The operational experience accumulated by the Hermes(r) systems for the Israeli Defense Forces and other leading armies worldwide, as well as the ongoing improvements based on its operational track record, have maintained this UAV family's leadership in performance, reliability, variety of mission-oriented payloads and more.

Kellerman further noted that the fact that the Hermes(r) 900 builds on existing applications and similar infrastructure of the Hermes(r) 450, allows Elbit Systems to transfer the new UAV directly into serial production. Elbit Systems is enhancing its production abilities in order to meet the growing demand of this new addition to the Hermes(r) UAV family.

Source : Elbit Systems Ltd. - click here for more information