Elbit Systems to Provide Drone Patrol Services to European Maritime Safety Agency

Elbit Systems of Israel has been contracted to provide maritime Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) patrol services to be provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to countries in the European Union.

The contract that will be executed in cooperation with CEiiA, an engineering company in Portugal, is for a two-year base period and two single year option periods. If fully ordered, the total contract value is €59 million.

Elbit Systems will lease and operate its Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol and its Ground Control Station. A long-range unmanned maritime surveillance system tailored for littoral and blue water operations, the Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol will feature maritime radar, an Electro Optic payload, Satellite Communication and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver.

Thus configured, the Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol will enable persistent monitoring of vast swathes of sea and long coastlines and effective identification of suspicious activities and potential hazards.

Elad Aharonson, General Manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR Division, commented: "the Hermes 900 family of UAS continuously expands its capabilities introducing the capability to operate in civilian airspace and integrating self-protection suites and stronger payloads."