An Israeli made UAS operational in Singapore

An Israeli made UAS operational in Singapore

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Hermes 450 2

The Elbit Systems Hermes-450 UAS (unmanned aerial system) operated by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), has reached full, operational status.

According to a report in Asia One the Hermes-450 was purchased in 2007, and a few weeks ago received its full operational capability status in a ceremony officiated by Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen.

In his speech during the ceremony at Murai Camp, the minister said that “UAVs have now become a critical asset to many military operations and have proven themselves to make a decisive difference to outcomes, whether in peacetime operations or battles.

“The Hermes 450 is one of the most capable UAVs in its class and indeed, the world… Compared to older UASs, the Hermes 450 enhances our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities with its extended endurance, advanced avionics and more capable sensors.”

Manufactured by Elbit Systems, an Israeli-based defense electronics company, the H-450 will be deployed as an “eye in the sky” to provide real-time updates for troops, and designate targets for combat aircraft.

Dr Ng also paid tribute to the SAF’s UAS task force, which spent six years operating in Afghanistan. The unmanned aerial systems provided surveillance over key roads, and identified threats such as improvised explosive devices for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) stationed there.