Israeli MALE UAV Over Poland. Securing the NATO Summit and the World Youth Day.

Israeli Hermes 900 drone is going to be used to support the process in which the NATO Summit in Warsaw and the World Youth Day are secured. The aircraft in question is currently stationed at the 23^rd Tactical Airbase of the Polish Air Force in Minsk Mazowiecki. The intention to use the UAV for the purpose of providing protection of the NATO Summit and of the World Youth Day has been confirmed by the Polish Minister of Defence, Antoni Macierewicz, during his farewell speech given in front of the soldiers who are to form the Polish Task Force Kuwait.

Hermes 900 UAV is being considered as an option in the MALE class UAV tender (Zefir) by the Polish Army, alongside the US-made MQ-9 Reaper system. According to the Head of the Armament Inspectorate, General Adam Duda, it is planned that four systems would be acquired, most probably via an intergovernmental agreement, assuming that a respective transfer of technology is realized at the same time, with establishment of an industrial potential within the territory of Poland.

Hermes 900 is a MALE-class (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) UAV manufactured by the Israeli Elbit Systems company. The aircraft is capable of staying airborne for up to 36 hours, while its operational ceiling is defined as 30,000 feet.

Read more:“Zefir” and “Gryf” Programmes Handled By The Minister of Defence. “Orlik” and “Wizjer” Drones To Be Selected This Year.

The Israeli UAV is also capable of carrying 300 kilograms of usable payload, including the reconnaissance equipment of a variety of types – electro-optic, radar and ELINT systems, along with electronic warfare suites. Hermes is also tailored to act as a retransmission point in the communication suites, moreover, the system is also tailored to carry two types of payload during a single sortie, allowing it to execute two missions in a simultaneous manner.