Switzerland’s Armasuisse procurement agency has selected Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 to meet the nation’s future unmanned air system requirement. The design had been in competition with Israel Aerospace Industries’ Super Heron TP to replace Ruag Ranger unmanned air vehicles currently in service with the Swiss armed forces.

“The Hermes 900 HFE has been favoured because it delivered the better overall result in all assessed criteria,” Armasuisse said in a 5 June notification, valuing the procurement at an estimated Swfr250 million ($279 million).

Elbit Systems

According to Armasuisse, the proposed ADS 15 system acquisition “will most probably be submitted for approval to parliament with the 2015 armaments programme”. Switzerland’s Ranger UAVs are expected to be replaced by 2020, it adds.

Source: Flight International