Philippines expects delivery of last batch of Hermes 900 MALE UAVs before yearend

A Hermes 900 MALE UAV. The PAF ordered 9 units in 3 systems.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) confirmed in their quarterly newsletter that they are expecting the delivery of the last batch of six (6) Hermes 900 medium altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (MALE UAV) from Israel’s Elbit Systems before the end of 2020.

The 6 UAVs are divided into 2 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), each with 3 UAVs, ground control stations, ground terminals and support equipment. 

The PAF acquired 4 Unmanned Aerial Systems from Elbit Systems, with 3 systems based on the Hermes 900 and 1 system based on the Hermes 450, under its Unmanned Aerial Systems project. The Hermes 900 are currently the largest and most advanced UAVs with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Filipino defense page MaxDefense Philippines confirmed with photos posted in September 2019 that at least 2 Hermes 450 UAVs were delivered, with another posted photo on November 2019 confirming that at least 2 of the Hermes 900 UAVs were already delivered.

Elbit Systems also previously confirmed that they have delivered a maritime patrol variant of the Hermes 900 that has capability to deploy droppable payload for rescue at sea to an undisclosed Southeast Asian country. It is expected to be the Philippines since it is the only country in the region that ordered the Hermes 900.

The Elbit Systems Hermes 900 UAV has a length of 8.3 meters, a wingspan of 15 meters, a gross weight of 1,100 kilograms, and is powered by a Rotax 914 piston engine capable of providing the UAV with a cruise speed of 70 miles per hour, a maximum speed of up to 140 miles per hour, and an endurance of up to 36 hours with a maximum service ceiling of 9,100 meters.

[1] Jane’s
[2] MaxDefense Philippines
[3] Philippine Defense Resource