Hermes 450
Israeli medium-size MALE drone for surveillance and reconnaissance. Key figures: top speed 176 km/h, range 300 km, service ceiling 5,500 m, max takeoff weight 550 kg, unit price $2M. In service with 5 air forces as of 2026 — Azerbaijan (10), Brazil (4), Philippines (4) and 2 others.
| Length | 6.1 m (20.0 ft) |
| Wingspan | 10.5 m (34.4 ft) |
| Empty weight | 450 kg (992 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 550 kg (1,213 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 1 × R802/902(W) Wankel engine, 39 kW 39 kW each |
| Maximum speed | 176 km/h (109 mph) |
| Operational range | 300 km (186 mi) |
| Endurance | 17 hours |
| Service ceiling | 5,500 m (18,045 ft) |
| Climb rate | 4.6 m/s (15.1 ft/s) |
Recent Events — Hermes 450
4 events →-
APR 302026
Israel
Shot down by a Hezbollah surface-to-air missile over Nabatieh; the IDF confirmed the loss.
Shot down
-
APR 242026
Israel
Shot down by Hezbollah over Tyre with an anti-aircraft missile; Israel acknowledged the loss.
Shot down
-
APR 12026
Israel
Shot down by Hezbollah over southern Lebanon; reported by both Hezbollah and Israeli sources.
Shot down
-
MAR 162026
Israel
Shot down by Hezbollah fighters using a MANPADS over southern Lebanon.
Shot down
Description
The Hermes 450 is a medium-sized tactical long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed by Israeli defence company Elbit. The aircraft is designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and communications relay missions. It serves as the design basis for the Thales Watchkeeper WK450 and Hermes 900 platforms.
Development
Elbit Systems developed the Hermes 450 to fulfill long-endurance tactical missions. In 2008, Elbit announced that a 40 kg R902(W) Wankel engine developing 70 brake horsepower would power the aircraft. The Hermes 450 subsequently served as the baseline for the British Army's Watchkeeper WK450 program, with Elbit acquiring full control of the joint venture development program from Thales UK in 2026.
Design
The Hermes 450 features a cylindrical fuselage, high straight wings, and a V-tail. It has a length of 6.1 m, a wingspan of 10.5 m, a maximum weight of 550 kg, and a payload capacity of 180 kg. Flight operations are fully autonomous from takeoff to landing using an onboard autopilot, though the system can also be manually controlled from a ground station. The aircraft is powered by an R902(W) Wankel engine with electronic fuel control, providing a maximum speed of 176 km/h, a cruising speed of 130 km/h, and an operational ceiling of 5,500 m. Primary sensors include electro-optical/infrared, synthetic-aperture radar/ground-moving target indication, electronic warfare, hyperspectral, and communications intelligence packages.
Armament
The Hermes 450 has the payload capacity to carry four Rafael Spike missiles or four Mikholit missiles. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence chose not to incorporate wing-mounted armament on its operational aircraft.
Operational History
The Israeli Air Force operates a Hermes 450 squadron out of Palmachim Airbase, deploying the type during operations in the Gaza Strip, the Second Lebanon War, the 2009 Sudan air raids, and over Tehran in 2025. The British Army operated 52 leased Hermes 450s with the 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2007 and 2014, logging over 86,000 flight hours. Georgian forces utilized the UAV for surveillance over Abkhazia, where Russian and Abkhazian forces downed three units in 2008. Additional export customers and military operators include Azerbaijan, Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Zambia, and the United States.
Variants
- Hermes 450LE: Long-endurance variant configured to achieve a maximum flight endurance of 30 hours.
- Watchkeeper WK450: British military variant developed in conjunction with Thales, equipped with laser gyroscopes in its inertial navigation system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of aircraft is the Hermes 450?
What is the maximum speed of the Hermes 450?
What is the range of the Hermes 450?
When did the Hermes 450 first fly?
Which countries operate the Hermes 450?
How much does a Hermes 450 cost?
What is the service ceiling of the Hermes 450?
- AUG 62026 Updated Description updated
- APR 72026 Updated Sources and cross-references refreshed