Story ID: 498 Elbit Hermes StarLiner
Elbit StarLiner Ready For Unsegregated Airspace
By: David Donald
Caption: Progress towards military-spec UAVs flying in civilian airspace has taken another step as Elbit is introducing a certifiable Hermes 900 version.
Word Count: 259
Elbit Systems of Israel has begun a global marketing campaign for a certifiable version of its Hermes 900 MALE unmanned aircraft system (UAS). A variant known as the Hermes 900 heavy fuel engine (HFE) has already been purchased by Switzerland, which has ordered six to replace its RUAG Ranger UAVs. They are currently being assembled for delivery next year.

Being marketed as the Hermes 900 StarLiner, the certifiable version has been adapted to be fully compliant with NATO STANAG 4671, allowing it to be operated alongside manned aircraft in non-segregated airspace. Along with all elements of the air vehicle being designed in accordance with certification requirements, the StarLiner includes advanced sense-and-avoid technology with both cooperative and non-cooperative capabilities, terrain avoidance warning, and automatic takeoff and landing in near-zero visibility. The UAS is equipped with de-icing and lightning-strike sustainment capabilities, and has redundant broadband line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight datalinks.

Elbit (Hall 1, Stand 1354) has now completed a year-long campaign of flight trials over the Masada national park, which were authorized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel. The StarLiner should be ready to begin operations in Switzerland within the national airspace system and further afield in Europe after it has been delivered.

The baseline Hermes 900 is an outgrowth of Elbit’s successful Hermes 450, employing similar control architecture. It serves with the Israel Air and Space Force with the name Kochav ("star") and first saw action in July 2014, although it was not declared fully operationally ready until August 2017. Other customers for the Hermes 900 include Chile, Colombia, and Mexico.