Russian Forces to Receive 'Hermes' Anti-Tank, Anti-Air Missile System with 100Km Range

Russian forces will soon receive an all-new multi-purpose missile system with anti-tank and anti-aircraft capability called 'Hermes."

According to Russian media, Russian gunsmiths are currently in the final stages of preparing the Hermes for deployment within the Russian Armed Forces. Reports confirm that various prototypes of the upgraded complex have successfully completed required tests, paving the way for upcoming industrial production.

The Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) integrated into the Hermes system have undergone significant updates, including advanced hardware components and a revamped source code for the fire control system. The Hermes system is designed to serve dual roles, functioning as both an anti-tank and anti-aircraft solution.

Two versions of the Hermes system have been developed, with the air carrier variant, known as "Hermes-A," boasting an operational range of up to 100 kilometers. The ground-based "Hermes-K" variant has a range of 35-50 kilometers.

The extended range of the Hermes system is achieved through a bicaliber two-stage missile design, featuring a high-speed second combat stage with increased ballistics. Externally, the missile shares similarities with the 57E6-E anti-aircraft missile used in the Pantsir-S1 air defense complex.

The Hermes system employs semi-active laser seekers to target over-the-horizon threats, with laser target designators on unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Orlan-30 and ZALA 421-16E HD providing precise target acquisition. The complexes, in collaboration with these UAVs, are capable of neutralizing enemy armored vehicles approaching Russian borders.

Furthermore, the Hermes-K complexes are expected to counteract Ukrainian surface drones of the Magura-5 type. In coordination with the 3M47 Gibka and AK-630M1-2 Hermes, they aim to mitigate the risk of Russian boats being targeted by adversaries.