Hermes 900 unmanned aircraft produced by the Israeli Elbit concern, one of the nine UAVs purchased about a year and a half ago, the Philippines Ministry of Defense – crashed during a routine flight. Details became known on Sunday, May 29.
According to local media, the UAV fell into agricultural land, without causing damage to objects on Earth. However, the plane itself crashed completely and is not subject to restoration.
“Hermes 900” is considered one of the largest UAVs produced in Israel. He made the first flight in 2009, and serial production began two years later.
All -weather tactical unmanned aerial vehicle is used for both military and civilian needs. Able to fly up to ten thousand meters, carry a useful load weighing up to 350 kg and autonomously be in the air up to 30 hours.
The Philippine Army uses it to patrol in hard -to -reach places, rescue operations, as well as to identify extremist groups.
Hermes’s failures are considered extremely rare. A commission has been created to investigate the disaster, which will be taken by representatives of Elbit.
In 2019, the Philippines ordered 13 UAVs from the Israeli company, including nine “Hermes”.
In Elbit did not respond to this publication.