Singapore will replace its Elbit Systems Hermes 450 unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) with the Hermes 900.
“Through robust and thorough evaluations, the H900 UAV was assessed to best meet the SAF’s operational needs,” says the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
“Singapore joins a list of countries around the world that operate this advanced system for military and civil uses.”
Singapore has operated the Hermes 450 since 2007, with the type attaining full operational capability in 2015.
The Hermes 900 offers longer endurance and higher operating altitude than the Hermes 450, allowing extended surveillance and operations at up to roughly 30,000ft. It carries almost double the payload, enabling more advanced sensor packages and mission flexibility.
The RSAF offered no details about the contract terms involved with the Hermes 900 acquisition, such as the number of aircraft, the cost, and specific delivery details.
On 29 September, however, Elbit said that it had won a $120 million contract to provide an unspecified number of Hermes 900 systems to an international customer that it did not identify.
The company said that the aircraft would be used for “long-range maritime surveillance”.
The RSAF offered no details about missions that the Hermes 900 will perform, but at the 2016 Singapore air show Elbit promoted the type’s ability to function as a “light” maritime patrol aircraft (MPA).
This is Singapore’s second major intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance announcement in two months.
On 9 September, the Southeast Asian nation said it will acquire four Boeing P-8A Poseidon MPAs to replace its Fokker 50 MPA Enforcer Mk2s.
