The British Coast Guard has completed test flights on an Elbit unmanned aircraft, as part of their integration into search and rescue missions • The experiment included rescuing ships in the middle of the sea • Watch
The British Coast Guard and Elbit Systems completed a series of test flights a few days ago at Elbit's Hermes 900 for a naval patrol. The flights were operated by the British Coast Guard as part of the combination of unmanned aircraft in naval search and rescue missions. Manned helicopters The test flights were conducted off the west coast of Wales during the first two weeks of September.
Test flight of the Hermes UAV for a sea tour in Wales // Photo: Elbit Systems
Unlike the usual UAVs, the Elbit Naval Hermes performed its missions while operating in an uncontrolled civilian airspace and without dedicated air closure, in coordination with the British Civil Aviation Authority. In a dangerous airspace, including the rescue of long-range ships that cross international air routes.
The success of the experiment is a significant step for the British Coast Guard, which seeks to improve the efficiency and accuracy of marine search and rescue operations, while reducing the risk to air crews.
Severe weather conditions and short flight duration greatly limit the marine search and rescue capabilities of manned helicopters or aircraft, and often even prevent search and rescue helicopters and rescue aircraft from carrying out their mission.
The Hermes is capable of flying for more than 24 hours in a row, in all weather conditions, day and night.
These capabilities enable UAVs to perform search and rescue missions more quickly and effectively, increase the number of marine search and rescue missions that can be performed safely and thus save lives. Elbit Systems recently expanded its rescue capabilities from an unmanned aircraft, combining the ability to perform accurate raft launches. Rescue from the Hermes UAV.
It was recently reported that the Hermes 900 UAV including this capability was delivered to a customer in Southeast Asia.
The Hermes UAV 900 for a naval tour in a rescue exercise in Israel
Elbit's UAV is designed to conduct continuous long-range naval patrols, enabling continuous monitoring of extensive sea areas and long coastlines while identifying suspicious activities and potential hazards. The UAV carries marine radar, electro-optical equipment, satellite communications and a receiver for an identification system. Automatic vessel, radio receiver for emergency positioning.
According to Elbit, the Hermes 900 is one of the leading mid-range UAV systems in the world. It has been in operational use in the Israeli Air Force, where it has been known as a "star" since 2015, and has been selected by many countries including Switzerland, England, the EU , UN, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Southeast Asian countries.
