Switzerland completes Israeli UAV evaluations

Oct. 19, 2012 by Arie Egozi – FG

Tel Aviv - Switzerland has completed in-country flight evaluations of two Israeli unmanned air systems, with a decision on its medium-altitude, long-endurance surveillance requirement expected to be made during 2014.

Israel Aerospace Industries' Heron 1 was tested by the Armasuisse procurement agency in September, with the activity having been followed by flights with Elbit Systems' Hermes 900 this month. Both air vehicles were demonstrated in a variety of flight envelopes.

The competition in Switzerland is the latest in a long list in which the rival manufacturers have gone head-to-head.

In May, Elbit won a contract to supply a mixed fleet of Hermes 900 and smaller Hermes 450 UAS to Colombia.

Sources in the Israeli defence establishment say the deal was placed under a government-to-government arrangement after a previous purchase was cancelled amid a "power struggle" between Elbit and IAI.