Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT) has won a $50 million contract to supply its Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to a country in the Americas. The company did not disclose the name of the customer, which will use the UAVs for perimeter security missions. Delivery will be made over one year.
The multi-mission Hermes 900 is an upgrade of Elbit Systems' Hermes 450, the backbone of the IDF's UAV operations, and which is also used by armies worldwide. The Hermes 900 can reach an altitude of 30,000 feet, and has longer endurance and larger payload capacity than the Hermes 450. The Hermes 900's systems include Universal Ground Control Stations (UGCS), El-Op DCoMPASS payload systems, and satellite communications systems. Both UAVs use the same ground control systems.
Elbit Systems UAS Division general manager Elad Aharonson said, "We are very proud that yet another customer has selected the Hermes 900, following orders by the Israeli Defense Forces and Chile." He added that the new UAV is used for intelligence missions, as well as perimeter and security missions."
Elbit Systems' share price rose 1% in early trading on the TASE today, to NIS 159.40, after rising 1% on Nasdaq on Friday to $40.93, giving a market cap of $1.75 billion.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 3, 2012
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