Aircraft

Singapore is to acquire an unspecified number of Hermes 450 unmanned air vehicles (UAV) to operate alongside its existing fleet of Israel Aerospace Industries Searcher aircraft.

Announcing the acquisition plan, defence minister, Teo Chee Hean, said that the new type would be phased in “over the next few years”.

The purchase will make Singapore the third declared Hermes 450 buyer. The type is in service with the Israeli Air Force and is on order for the British Army.

Undeclared operators include Botswana, which has had a small number of aircraft in service for at least two years.

“The introduction of the Hermes 450 UAV offers an enhancement to our battlefield surveillance capability with its extended endurance, advanced avionics and sensors” says Teo.

The announcement, made 25 May, came in parallel to Singapore formally standing up its new UAV command with personnel drawn from the army, navy and air force units.

A Hermes 450 was displayed at that ceremony however it remains unclear whether this was a demonstrator system or an initial delivery article.

“The UAV command has been constituted as an integrated entity,” Teo said.

“This allows UAV-borne capabilities to be effectively integrated and optimised for use when needed by forces from all the three services.

"The UAV command covers the whole of the Singaporean armed forces.”

The Hermes 450 is a medium size UAV used to supply real time intelligence data to ground forces. The UAV is 6.1m long and has a wingspan of 10.5m.

Maximum take-off weight is 450kg. It is powered by a 52hp rotary UEL engine that provides a maximum speed of 95 KTAS and it has an endurance of over 20h.