The Swiss Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) has chosen the Israeli Elbit Systems Hermes 900 HFE over the
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Super Heron as its new unmanned aerial system.
The Hermes 900 HFE will replace the ADS 95 Ranger reconnaissance drone system produced by Switzerland’s RUAG Aerospace. As of October 2013, there were 15 of the systems operating. The Swiss armed forces have operated the ADS 95 Ranger since 2001, and the Hermes will replace it by 2020.
Under the 2015 arms procurement program, efforts are under way to replace the ADS UAV system, which is reaching the end of its life cycle, the DDPS said in a statement last month. The choice of the new Hermes system allows the procurement process to get under way.
The Hermes 900 HFE was chosen over the Super Heron because it delivered the better overall result in all assessed criteria, the ministry statement said. Earlier, the two systems were chosen as the best of choices in meeting the stated requirements.
The Hermes 900 HFE system is an all-weather unarmed reconnaissance drone system that is more flexible, has longer endurance in the air and a wider operational range than the current system.
The new UAVs are unarmed. Currently, combat drones are not an option for the DDPS.
The use of the UAV will be explained extensively in the dispatch on procurement, the Armed Forces Development Program and the Security Policy Report. The decision to buy the new reconnaissance drone system (ADS 15) will likely be submitted for Parliamentary approval with the 2015 armaments program.