British Pilots Finally Training On Watchkeeper

With flight clearances in place, British Army pilots are now able to support troop training with the Thales Watchkeeper unmanned aerial system (UAS).
It has been a long time coming. Initially due for entry into service three years ago, Watchkeeper has not had an easy introduction, facing extra scrutiny as the first UAS to be certified by the U.K.’s new military air safety body, the Military Aviation Authority (MAA). Meanwhile, the loss of one of its precursors in Afghanistan, a leased-in Hermes 450, has resulted in a radical change in the configuration of the army’s UAS operations, to those more closely matching that of a typical flying squadron in the Army Air Corps or the Royal Air Force.
In March, the system was given its interim release to service, allowing army crews from the Royal Artillery to begin operations. Until then, army pilots had only been able to fly through the use of a Military Flight Test Permit (MFTP) in conjunction with Thales test pilots.
Once all 54 platforms and 14 ground stations are in service, they will be pooled between two front-line active-duty units, the 32 and 47 Regiments of Royal Artillery, each with five flights using five systems each.
aviationweek

Elbit Systems Awarded Contract to Supply Brazil with Hermes 900 UAS

Elbit Systems has announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Brazilian Air Force-FAB for the supply of a Hermes 900 UAS. The Hermes 900, will be operated by FAB in combined missions with the Hermes 450 fleet, already in operational use. Both UAS will carry safety and security missions in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Games. The Hermes 900 will be supplied within two months.
FAB, is the eighth customer of the Hermes 900.
Elbit Systems subsidiary in Brazil, AEL SYSTEMAS S.A. will supply FAB with technical and engineering support as well as logistic and maintenance services.
elbitsystems

Israel bans IAI, Elbit from selling UAVs to Poland

Israel has withdrawn the export licenses to Poland for two large Israeli defense companies - Elbit Systems Ltd. and Israel Aerospace Industries. Following the extraordinary decision, the two companies are banned from operating in Poland and selling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) there.
The decision was taken because of a quarrel between the companies in the affair of UAV exports to the Polish Army, which resulted in the resignation of Poland's Minister of Defense two months ago. He was forced to resign for internal reasons, but the competition between Elbit Systems and IAI for the sale of UAV's to the Polish Army, which got out of control, was a contributing factor. A high point in the competition occurred when IAI questioned Minister's preference for Elbit Systems' Hermes 450 UAV. Complaints by IAI and other correspondence reached the Polish media, causing a storm that shook Poland's defense establishment.
Now, neither IAI nor Elbit Systems may sell UAVs and peripheral systems in Poland until further notice. This is happening when the Polish Army is undertaking an extensive procurement plan, which could have been good business for the Israeli companies.
globes

Colombia seeks new fighter purchase

Colombia’s air force is planning to bolster its combat capabilities, with the purchase of an additional squadron of fighter aircraft.
Air force officials are now completing a study into potential candidates for the requirement, which is likely to total 18 aircraft. To potentially include a mix of used and new-build airframes, these would be operated in concert with the service’s current Israel Aerospace Industries Kfir C10 strike platforms.
Multiple types have been included in a potential candidate list:Boeing F/A-18, Dassault Mirage 2000, Lockheed Martin F-16 and Sukhoi Su-30
The need to acquire a dedicated air superiority fighter was highlighted through Colombia’s deployment of eight Kfirs to the USA in 2012 to participate in a Red Flag-series air combat exercise flown from Nellis AFB in Nevada.
Colombia’s remaining Rockwell OV-10 Broncos are likely to remain operational for around another five years, before a multi-role replacement could be sought to work with its Embraer EMB-314/A-29 Super Tucanos. Operations with its Cessna A-37B Dragonfly counter-insurgency aircraft are expected to continue for some more years though, with the air force having recently acquired a low flight-hour example from Chile and to receive two more via the Dominican Republic.
The Colombian air force also has an interest in fielding an armed unmanned air system capability as part of its future force mix. This could initially involve adding air-to-surface weapons with its existing Elbit Systems Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 air vehicles. The service also wants to field a new-generation airborne early warning and control system type, due to the age of its current one Boeing 707-based example.
flightglobal

Unmanned Taranis has flown, MoD reveals

Breaking a long silence about the status of its BAE Systems-led Taranis unmanned combat air system technology demonstrator, the UK Ministry of Defence has revealed that initial flight tests have already taken place.
The debut is believed to have occurred at the Woomera test range in South Australia. BAE has used the site during previous unmanned flight test campaigns, including with its Mantis, Herti, Corax and Raven systems. In a 1 August trading statement, the company said the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour-powered Taranis was due to fly “in the second half of the year”.
The MoD’s written submission also includes a detailed split of its currently 577-strong UAV inventory, which is predominantly used to support operations in Afghanistan. The total comprises five General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Reapers, eight leased Elbit Systems Hermes 450s, 222 Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk IIIs, 324 Prox Dynamics Black Hornets and 18 Honeywell T-Hawks.
flightglobal

Thales Watchkeeper UAS gains French colours

Thales is hoping that its offer of the Watchkeeper tactical unmanned air system could take off with the French army, with the company exhibiting a full-size model of the reconnaissance asset sporting the service's markings.
Developed for the British Army from the Elbit Systems Hermes 450, the Watchkeeper carries an electro-optical/infrared sensor turret and Thales's I-Master synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indication payload.
flightglobal

Brazilian navy begins UAS evaluation

The Brazilian navy has begun to evaluate unmanned air systems for its missions. The two current options are the Elbit Systems Hermes 450 and Israel Aerospace Industries Heron 1, both of which are already in service in Brazil in other configurations.

flightglobal

Elbit begins Hermes 900 deliveries to Latin American buyer

Elbit Systems has delivered its first Hermes 900 system to an undisclosed customer in Latin America, with its programme including the delivery of unmanned air vehicles, universal ground control stations to be installed in a mission control centre, Elop electro-optical sensors and other equipment.
In August 2012, Elbit announced its receipt of an order to supply a mixed fleet of Hermes 900s and smaller Hermes 450s to a Latin American buyer. Sources in the Israeli defence establishment said the contract was with Colombia, and had been signed under a government-to-government agreement imposed by the Israeli defence ministry after a previous deal was cancelled because of a "power struggle" between Elbit and Israel Aerospace Industries.

flightglobal

Fuerza Aérea de Brasil recibe dos UAV Hermes 450 más de Elbit Systems

La Fuerza Aérea de Brasil (FAB) recibió el día 30 de enero dos UAV más Hermes 450 fabricados por la compañía israelí Elbit Systems, lo que supone una inversión de 24,26 millones de dólares, aproximadamente. Denominados como RQ-450, los UAV están siendo montados en la Base Aérea de Santa María, sede del 1º/12º GAv, Escuadrón Horus, unidad de la Fuerza Aérea pionera en la operación de este tipo de aeronaves. Según la FAB, los vuelos de prueba de los nuevos RQ-450 tendrán lugar en marzo.
podermilitar

Brazil tests Hermes UAVs in border surveillance exercise

Brazil has begun using its Elbit Systems Hermes 450 unmanned air vehicles to perform surveillance duties along its border with Bolivia. Two of the Brazilian air force's new UAVs were trialled in the monitoring task during the recent Operation "Agata 6".

flightglobal

Brasil adquiere aeronaves no tripuladas Hermes/ Brazilian Air Forces buys Hermes

Elbit Systems ha confirmado la obtenció de un contrato para suministrar aeronaves no tripuladas Hermes 450 a la Fuerza Aérea de Brasil, que desea contar capacidad de este tipo de tecnología.
key.aero
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Israeli aerospace company Elbit Systems has announced that its Brazilian subsidiary, Aeroeletrônica Ltda (AEL) has been awarded a contract to supply the Hermes 450 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).
The project is a part of the FAB’s objective to establish an independent UAS capability.
key.aero

Brasil adquiere dos aeronaves no tripuladas Hermes 450/ Brazil selects Elbit's Hermes 450 UAV

La Fuerza Aérea de Brasil ha adqurido dos Hermes 450 UAV.
flightglobal
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Brazil's air force has selected the Elbit Systems Hermes 450 for an operational requirement for an initial two unmanned air vehicles and one ground control station. A contract is expected to be signed in early 2011 after some remaining details have been finalised
flightglobal

Brasil evalua el Hermes 450/Brazil tests Hermes 450

La fuerza aérea de Brasil, está evaluando la aeronave sin piloto Hermes 450 en la base aérea de Santa Maria en el estado de Rio Grande do Sul. La evaluación está a cargo de Aeroeletrônica, filial de Elbit.
key.aero
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The Brazilian Air Force has launched a new unmanned aerial system (UAS) evaluation programme using the Elbit-produced Hermes 450 as a test vehicle.
The programme is based at Santa Maria Air Force Base in the Rio Grande do Sul district of Brazil where Aeroeletrônica, a subsidiary company of Israeli-owned Elbit, will be in charge. The aim is to produce an independent technological capability for the Brazilian Air Force.
key.aero