Elbit Systems has unveiled the latest addition to its market-leading Hermes family. This next generation Unmanned Aerial System boasts outstanding endurance, versatility and cost-effective performance across land, air and sea operations.

Key benefits and features include autonomous operation, a unique wide flight envelop, high payload capacity, minimum life cycle cost, exceptional safety, survivability and immunity standards, increased range (BLOS), flight speed and efficiency, as well as NATO STANAG 4671 compliance.

Yoram Shmuely, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace says: “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 Hermes 650 Spark is the latest addition to the highly acclaimed Hermes family, and expands the operational flight envelope with next-generation 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.

With its high payload capacity facilitated by exceptional large payload bays, the Hermes 650 Spark allows for multi-payload configurations without compromising flight endurance. 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.

Elbit says 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 remarkable 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.