Fact Sheet: Hermes 450 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) acquired the Hermes 450 (H-450) UAV to complement the Searcher UAV and Heron 1 UAV. Utilising a Wankel Engine, the H-450 is a single engine system with advanced composite structure and optimised aerodynamics. Its long endurance and improved detection capability provides the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) with better situational awareness in the field.

The capabilities of the RSAF's H-450 include a 3-in-1 payload equipped with Electro-Optical, Forward Looking Infra-Red system and a Laser Designator. This enables the H-450 to augment our battlefield surveillance capabilities by conducting a wide array of missions such as Target Acquisition and Designation, Reconnaissance and Battle Damage Assessment. UAV pilots are able to focus on collecting and processing information because the H-450 is able to operate on autonomous flight mode. This enhances the timeliness of critical information dissemination.

The H-450 is operated from a Ground Control Station (GCS). Through the GCS, control signals are sent to, processed, and retrieved from the H-450. It is also equipped with a communication system that is able to transfer imagery real-time from the H-450. The H-450 operates using a two-man crew concept, each with the ability to fly the UAV and control the 3-in-1 sensor payload at the same time. This enables one UAV pilot to control the UAV and payload while the other focuses on collecting and processing information.

More Resources

• RSAF's Hermes 450 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is Fully Operational