Switzerland shows for the first time Hermes 900 Starliner drones that can be equipped with air-to-ground missiles
In 2015, Switzerland ordered six Hermes 900 Starliner drones from the Israeli company Elbit Systems. Seven years later, the country's Air Force received its first drones.
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The contract signed in 2015 was worth $290 million. The Starliner is an upgraded version of the Hermes 900. Switzerland has already received two of the six drones to replace the Ranger ADS-95 drones. The others will be delivered in 2023. Twelve UAV operators completed training in December 2021.
The Swiss Armed Forces Joint Command said the military is considering equipping the Hermes 900 Starliner with air-to-ground missiles. Although this is contradictory to Swiss law.
The drones were delivered in the spring, and the first tests took place in the summer. At the end of the year, Switzerland has planned additional tests of the Hermes 900 Starliner, which will demonstrate the drones' capabilities in winter conditions. They will take place in northern Canada.
Hermes 900 Starliner is equipped with wings with a span of 17 m and weighs 1600 kg. The drone is designed for reconnaissance missions and can carry 450 kg of payload, including thermal, electro-optical and radar systems. The drone has a maximum speed of 260 km/h and a flight time of 24 hours.
Source: JPost
Image: Rador
