The Hermes 900, also known as “Kochav”, is designed and manufactured by the Israeli security technology company Elbit Systems.
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A screen grab from a video showing an Israeli Hermes 900 UAV being downed by Hezbollah fighters. (Military Media of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon)
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon – Hezbollah published early Sunday footage of its fighters shooting down a Hermes 900 armed drone that was violating Lebanon’s airspace on Saturday.
The Israeli occupation military said that a surface-to-air missile was launched toward an Israeli Air Force unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Lebanese airspace, which hit and downed it, adding that the incident was being investigated.
#المقاومة_الاسلامية تنشر مشاهد من عملية إسقاط مسيّرة مسلّحة تابعة لجيش العدو الإسرائيلي من نوع هرمز 900 فوق الأراضي اللبنانية.#طوفان_الأقصى pic.twitter.com/zFWF4TKsw2
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) April 6, 2024
The Hermes 900, also known as “Kochav”, is designed and manufactured by the Israeli security technology company Elbit Systems and is primarily used for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance (ISTAR), and aerial reconnaissance missions.
It is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV with a wingspan of 15 meters (49 feet). It has a maximum takeoff weight of around 1,180 kilograms (2,600 pounds).
Operated by Squadron 166 of the Israeli Air Force, the Hermes 900 weighs 970 kg, enjoys a maximum payload weight of 350 kg, and reaches a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet.
The drone is equipped with various sensors and payloads, including electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), maritime patrol radar, signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems, and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities.
The Hermes 900 enjoys a maximum flight endurance of up to 36 hours in a single sortie, allowing it to conduct long-duration missions.
The aircraft is operated remotely from a ground control station (GCS) by a team of operators and uses secure data links for communication with the ground control station, allowing real-time control and data transmission.
The Hermes 900 entered service with the Israeli Air Force in 2012 and was used during the Israeli occupation’s war on the Gaza Strip in 2014. It is the second-largest unmanned reconnaissance aircraft after the Heron TP, also known as “Eitan”, developed by the “Israel” Aerospace Industries.
It is noteworthy that in a joint operation on February 20, al-Qassam Brigades and al-Mujahideen Brigades fighters targeted an Israeli Hermes 900 drone with a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile to the southwest of Gaza City.