Tel Aviv: Switzerland is currently considering the future of a 300 million Swiss francs contract for the purchase the Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 UAV. This surprising development as explained by the Swiss authorities puts emphasis on the “ongoing and significant technical issues.”
The main issue according to the Swiss Air Force is that the UAV’s Detect and Avoid systems don’t adhere to Swiss safety and operational standards. Autonomous flight in Switzerland’s complicated airspace, which frequently sees paragliders and steep terrain, requires these systems to operate flawlessly.
According to the Swiss media, the Israeli UAVs do not meet the safety requirements of detecting and avoiding birds and low-flying aircraft, which means they currently require a helicopter or another escort aircraft during takeoff and landing to prevent collisions.
The final decision about the future of the contract is expected by the end of the year. Only four of the six drones that were ordered have arrived, and none of them are currently deemed ready for full operational deployment.
Originally approved in 2015, the project was expected to be finished by 2019, but it has been postponed until at least 2029.
The Swiss parliamentary finance committee and other officials have expressed deep skepticism about the project’s feasibility, technical risks, and escalating costs. The current technical shortcomings have led to a loss of patience and trust in the program, making cancellation a serious and imminent possibility.
Israeli sources said that the problems in the Swiss Hermes -900 may stem from systems installed in this advanced UAV to meet European flight regulations. “The Hermes -900 operational in the Israeli Air Force and other Air Forces has proven its capability to operate under harsh condition,” one of the sources said.
The Hermes 900 , designated “Kochav” (“Star”) by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), is a key component of Israel’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fleet. Developed by Elbit Systems, it is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV designed for tactical missions including reconnaissance , communications and electronic intelligence. The UAV also carries different weapon systems.
The endurance of the Hermes -900 is over 30 hours, depending on payload, while maximum altitude is 30,000 feet (9,100 m). The wingspan of Hermes 900 is 15 metres and it can carry a 300 kg payload.
While Israel is the primary operator, the Hermes 900 is also exported and used by more than 20 countries worldwide.
Elbit Systems was reluctant to comment on the issue.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
