Elbit Systems announced on June 8 that it was selected by the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (“DDPS”), as the preferred supplier for the UAS 15 new reconnaissance drone program. The Hermes 900 aims at replacing the ADS 95 Ranger reconnaissance drone system, which the Swiss Armed Forces have been operating since 2001. It will be replaced by 2020.
The model that has been chosen is the "Hermes 900 HFE", manufactured by the Israeli Elbit Systems company. It is an unarmed reconnaissance drone system.
The Hermes 900 HFE system is an all-weather unarmed reconnaissance drone system that is flexible, has long endurance in the air and a wide operational range than the system currently in use.
The new UAVs are unarmed. Currently, combat drones are not an option for the DDPS. The use of the UAV will be explained extensively in the context of the dispatch on procurement, the Armed Forces Development Programme and the Security Policy Report. The decision to procure the new reconnaissance drone system (ADS 15), which will cost around 250 millions swiss francs, will most probably be submitted for approval to Parliament with the 2015 armaments programme.
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