Israeli defense technology company Elbit Systems has announced the award of a $120 million contract for the delivery of Hermes 900 maritime unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to the Royal Thai Navy.
The contract also includes the delivery of training capabilities and will be performed over a three-year period, according to the company.
The Hermes 900 maritime UAS will feature maritime radar, electro optic payload, satellite communication, droppable inflated life rafts and other capabilities.
It will enable the Royal Thai Navy to perform both blue water and littoral missions, dominate vast swathes of sea and long coastlines, communicate with operational vessels and carry out civilian mission such as maritime search and rescue and identification of suspicious activities and potential hazards.
Elbit announced the contract after the Royal Thai Navy received the first RQ-21A UAS from the United States in May this year. Thailand is receiving a total of five Blackjack systems, which will be operated alongside the more capable Hermes 900.
“This is yet another vote of confidence in the Hermes family of UAS. We are experiencing a growing demand around the globe for our unmanned solutions that are capable of effective integration with operational activities of manned forces across domains of operation, addressing a wide range of evolving threats,” Yoram Shmuely, general manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace, commented.
Elbit says the Hermes family of UAS has been selected to date by more than 20 customers including Israel, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, the United Nations, the European Union, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico.
