HAIFA, Israel — Elbit Systems Ltd. has been awarded a framework contract for maritime unmanned aircraft system (UAS) patrol services to be provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to countries in the European Union, the company said in a Nov. 1 release. The contract is for a two-year base period and two single-year option periods. If fully ordered, the total contract value is approximately $68 million.
Under the contract, and in cooperation with CEiiA, a leading engineering company in Portugal, Elbit Systems will lease and operate its Hermes 900 maritime patrol UAS and its ground control station. A persistent long-range unmanned maritime surveillance system tailored for littoral and blue water operations, the Hermes 900 will feature maritime radar, an electro-optic payload, satellite communication and an automatic identification system receiver. Thus configured, the Hermes 900 will enable persistent monitoring of vast swathes of sea and long coastlines and effective identification of suspicious activities and potential hazards.
“Having been selected by the European Union authorities is yet another vote of confidence in the Hermes 900 by following additional contract awards for this UAS in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Israel,” said Elad Aharonson, general manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR Division. “Extensively deployed, the Hermes 900 family of UAS continuously expands its capabilities introducing the capability to operate in civilian airspace and integrating self-protection suites and stronger payloads.”
