Breaking news
Swiss Federal Council gives green light for purchase of six Hermes 900 HFE UAVs.
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World
Aviation Defense & Security News - Swiss |
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| Swiss Federal Council gives green light for purchase of six Hermes 900 HFE UAVs | |||
The
Swiss Federal Council has adopted the ministerial message on the acquisition
of defence equipment for 2015 (Armament Program 2015) that was submitted
to Parliament. Armaments Program 2015 calls for Parliament to approve
financing of three projects, including the purchase of six new UAVs in
order to replace systems which have been in service for twenty years.
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 Elbit Systems' Hermes 900 HFE unmanned aerial vehicle |
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The "reconnaissance
drone 15" will replace the "reconnaissance drone 95."
The current system, which has been in service for twenty years, has
the technological level of the 1980s The proposed acquisition includes six UAVs, including ground components, simulator and logistic support. The current drone program in Switzerland - the ADS 95 Ranger reconnaissance drone system, operating since 2001 - is slated to be replaced by 2020, under the new defense agreement. Elbit Systems' Hermes 900 HFE, an all-weather, unarmed reconnaissance drone system, is more flexible, has longer endurance in the air and a wider operational range than the system currently used by the Swiss Armed Forces, according to an official statement by the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (“DDPS”). "The Hermes 900 HFE has been favored," the statement said, "because it delivered the better overall result in all assessed criteria." The deal will cost around $268 million. |
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