Photo: Elbit Systems Ltd Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV/Drone). Named Hermes 900, it is seen at the company's drone factory in Rehovot, Israel. Details are emerging of secret capabilities aimed at Palestinian enemies and more distant targets.

TEL AVIV: Israel's armed drones use gravity bombs that produce no noise or smoke as they fall, making them difficult for enemies to predict or avoid, and the largest model of the aircraft can carry up to a ton of ammunition, the military says.

After more than two decades of secrecy, in July 2022 Israel went public with its pioneering armed drones, developed as part of a range of remote surveillance and strike options since it was blindsided by tank incursions during the 1973 war.

In November 2022, an Israeli general detailed the two units — the air force and artillery — that operate the drones, both against Palestinian enemies close to home and potential targets as far away as Iran or Sudan.

Body characteristics:

  • Take-off weight         1,180 Kg    
  • Load capacity            350 Kg
  • Fly time/Endurance    Up to 36 hours
  • Maximum height           30,000 ft/9144 meters (9km)

Such drones are controlled remotely, transmit video or drop bombs before returning to base. They differ from the kamikaze drones that Iran said were used in a weekend attack on a defense plant in Isfahan, an incident that Israel declined to comment on.

Key benefits:

  • Highly autonomous and efficient mission.
  • Multiple hard points and 250kg modular mounting bay.
  • Satellite communication and LOS data link.
  • Opportunities for adverse weather conditions.
  • Designed for minimal maintenance.

Key features:

  • Wide variety of cutting edge payloads:
  • EO/IR/Laser Designator, Long Range EO/IR
  • SAR/GMTI & MPR + AIS
  • ELINT, EW, COMINT, COMJAM
  • Wide Area Surveillance / Mapping
  • Hyper Spectral
  • Communication Relay
  • Other

 

A senior Israeli military officer told Reuters that the armed fleet of drones includes the passenger plane-sized Heron TP made by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd and Elbit Systems Ltd's smaller Hermes.