SINGAPORE—Israel’s Elbit Systems has unveiled the Hermes 650 Spark, which is designed to fulfill requirements for a midsize UAS between the Hermes 450 and the Hermes 900. Already on order from an undisclosed customer, the Hermes 650 is expected to enter serial production in 2025.

A few distinct differences of the Hermes 650 from conventional Hermes products are the push-pull propeller engines as well as the conventional tail and horizontal stabilizer. 

Ziv Avni, Elbit’s vice president and head of marketing and business development, tells Aviation Week at the Singapore Airshow that the 650's design is based primarily on operational and flight requirements, with the focus on speed and range. Additionally, Elbit wants the system to be flexible enough to operate and loiter around numerous operational zones quickly.

Elbit decided to install overpowered engines, in this case Rotax 912s, so that the powerplants are less stressed when operating at high speeds, which in turn facilitates the long-term sustainment of the engine.

With a maximum takeoff weight of 650 kg (1,430 lb.), the composite-built Spark has a useful payload of 260 kg, with speed of 55-120 kt. and endurance of up to 24 hr. The overpowered engine enables a relatively short takeoff distance of 200 m (660 ft.).

For comparison, a Hermes 900 has a useful payload of around 350 kg.

Avni says the Spark is fully compatible with all Hermes family control systems, meaning the user can have the full range of Hermes 450 to Hermes 900 while still retaining the flexibility to have unique capabilities from the three UAS types.

The Hermes 650 displayed at the Singapore Airshow features an electro-optic turret, communications intelligence antennas and wing-mounted electronic warfare pods. The wing has provisions for three external hardpoints each.

Development started “a few years ago” and first flight was achieved in the first quarter of 2023. While Elbit did not provide information on the launch customer, the first purchaser of Elbit's platforms typically is the Israel Defense Forces.