(Photo: Elbit Systems)
Six Elbit Systems Hermes 450s UAVs operated by the British Army under an urgent operational requirement deal with Thales UK are seen above. Meanwhile on the other side of the world Australia has recently signed a contract extending its use of Herons until at least December 2011.
Here is the Heron's manufacturing and performance specifics:
| Wingspan | 16.6/26m |
| Length | 8.5/14m |
| Mass | 1,150/4,650kg |
| Endurance | 52/36h |
| Cruise speed | 80kt/undisclosed |
| Altitude | 30,000/45,000ft |
| Payload | 250/1,000kg |
on August 31, 2010 11:19 AM | Reply
Will - Mate, you need your eyes checked! They aren't RAAF Herons...they're British Army Watchkeepers.
on August 31, 2010 11:27 AM | Reply
Thanks for the correction, Eamon. All should be right now. Cheers!
on August 31, 2010 1:42 PM | Reply
Sorry, still wrong: they are Elbit Systems Hermes 450s, operated by the British Army under an urgent operational requirement deal with Thales UK. The Watchkeeper 450 looks similar, but isn't in use yet. You can tell the new aircraft apart as it has a twin-payload configuration.
on September 1, 2010 2:12 PM | Reply
Okay, we should be good now!