Elbit Systems’ (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT) Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flew yesterday above ParcAberporth, Wales. The Hermes 450 is a part of WatchKeeper, a joint project by Elbit Systems and Thales. The flight was part of the UAV 2005 Exhibition taking place at ParcAberporth.
The flight, the first by a large UAV in the UK, was registered in the air traffic report by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). During the flight, which continuously monitored on the ground, high-resolution pictures were broadcast to giant screens from a CoMPASS lookout system developed by Elbit Systems’ subsidiary El-Op Electro-Optics Industries.
Senior officials of the British Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Transport, and Ministry of Industry and Trade and the CAA, and representatives of Thales and Elbit Systems, viewed the demonstration flight.
The Hermes 450 is the basis on which the WatchKeeper 450 will be developed as part of complete system for the British Ministry of Defense.
Elbit Systems president and CEO Joseph Ackerman said, “I’m proud that Elbit System has been privileged, together with Thales, to be part of such an import chapter in the history of the UAV industry in the UK, and in the whole world. The successful flight, an important milestone in the prestigious WatchKeeper program, is further proof of our advanced technological capabilities.”
The exhibition also included a number of flights by the Skylark miniature UAV, also developed by Elbit Systems.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on September 8, 2005