UAV · Tactical UAV
Hermes 450
Elbit Systems · Israel
Single-engine tactical UAV with ~10.5 m wingspan and 20+ hours endurance, widely exported and combat-proven; the armed Israeli variant is 'Zik' and the UK derivative is the Watchkeeper.
| Country | Israel |
|---|---|
| Subcategory | Fixed-wing |
| Subtype | Tactical UAV |
| Role | ISR / armed tactical |
| Class | Tactical |
| Classification | Tactical UAV |
| Mission | ISR, Reconnaissance, Target acquisition |
| Variants | Hermes 450, Zik, Watchkeeper (UK) |
| MTOW (kg) | 550 |
| Operators | Israel, United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, Croatia, Georgia |
| Frame type | Fixed-wing |
| Length (m) | 6.1 |
| Propulsion | Piston |
| Wingspan (m) | 10.5 |
| Combat-proven | Yes |
| Export status | Exported |
| Launch method | Runway |
| Endurance (min) | 1200 |
| Recovery method | Runway |
| Year introduced | 1998 |
| Max payload (kg) | 150 |
| Max speed (km/h) | 176 |
| Standard sensors | EO/IR, SAR/GMTI, COMINT/ELINT |
| Production status | In production |
| Notable engagements | Extensive use over Gaza; three Georgian Hermes 450 shot down in 2008 |
| Service ceiling (m) | 5486 |
| Conflicts deployed in | Gaza, Second Lebanon War, 2008 Russo-Georgian War |
| Airframe / lift type | Fixed-wing |
| Domain | Aerial (UAV/UAS) |
| Mission / use case – military | Armed UCAV, ISR, Target acquisition |
| Origin / supply chain | Military-grade |
| Propulsion | ICE – petrol |
| Range / endurance | Short range (50–150 km) |
| Signature / detectability | RCS – medium |
| Speed regime | High (150–400 km/h) |
| Threat vector | Surveillance / reconnaissance |
| Weight / class | Class II – Tactical (150–600 kg), FAA >25 kg (Part 137 / waiver) |
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Review-stage catalogue data — specs corroborated from manufacturer and secondary sources; not for procurement decisions. Source: www.elbitsystems.com/autonomous/aerial/tactical-uas/hermes-450