Aeronaves y UAV

Aeronave no tripulada armada Hermes 450

Also known as
  • Hermes 450
  • Hermes 450 UAS
  • Hermes 450 UAV
  • H450
  • Zik
  • The Spark

El Hermes 450 de Elbit Systems es un UAS táctico israelí, conocido en servicio de la Fuerza Aérea Israelí como Zik o The Spark, que combina cargas útiles ISR de gran autonomía, control autónomo desde estación terrestre y configuraciones armadas documentadas en Gaza, Líbano e Irán, mientras que otras filas con fuentes cubren misiones azerbaiyanas de control de fuego en Nagorno-Karabakh y apoyo ISTAR británico H450 en Afganistán.

Aeronave no tripulada armada Hermes 450, UAS táctico polivalente, Aeronaves y UAV
Image source: Hermes-450.jpg on Wikimedia Commons

Role in Conflicts

2014 Gaza War
Long-Range StrikeTargeting Support
Side
Israel

Usado por la Fuerza Aérea Israelí en la guerra de Gaza de 2014; DIMSE identifica el empleo de drones Hermes durante Operation Protective Edge, y Drone Wars UK cita informes de que un Hermes 450 capturó imágenes durante la cadena de ataque en la playa de Gaza que mató a cuatro niños de la familia Bakr en julio de 2014.

2023 Israel-Hamas War
Reconnaissance & SurveillanceLong-Range StrikeTargeting Support
Side
Israel

Usado por la Fuerza Aérea Israelí durante la guerra Israel-Hamás de 2023; los informes identifican drones Hermes 450 Zik del 161 Squadron en misiones de defensa y seguimiento al inicio de la guerra, y otras fuentes identifican participación de Hermes 450 en ataques en Gaza, incluido el ataque de abril de 2024 contra el convoy de World Central Kitchen y un ataque en Rafah en febrero de 2025.

Role details
Operator Context

El Hermes 450 aparece en las fuentes bajo varias etiquetas de operador. Zik es el nombre en servicio de la Fuerza Aérea Israelí, H450 aparece en material británico y singapurense, y las afirmaciones de uso en conflicto de esta entrada permanecen vinculadas al operador y al teatro que cada fuente documenta directamente.

Israel

informes israelíes identifican el Hermes 450 como Zik, o The Spark, y filas de conflicto separadas documentan uso israelí en Gaza, Líbano e Irán.

Fuentes: Times of Israel: Hermes 900 joins Hermes 450; FDD/Jerusalem Post: Hermes 450 Zik drones in Hamas war; CTech War Room: Zik over Tehran.

Reino Unido

Fuentes del UK Ministry of Defence describen operaciones H450 del British Army en Afganistán como apoyo ISTAR, reconocimiento, adquisición de blancos y video de movimiento completo no armado.

Fuentes: GOV.UK Hermes UAV Afghanistan milestone; Operation Herrick Aircraft Statistics.

Singapur

El Ministry of Defence de Singapur describe el H-450 de la RSAF como plenamente operacional en 2015 y proporciona dimensiones públicas útiles, así como contexto sobre motor, velocidad y control terrestre.

Fuentes: MINDEF Singapore Hermes 450 UAV Fact Sheet; RSAF Hermes 450 Fully Operational.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel
Type
UAS táctico polivalente
Service note
Finales de la década de 1990-presente
Designer
Elbit Systems
Designed
Década de 1990
Produced
1998-presente

Specifications

Tripulación
0
Peso de despegue
550 kg
Carga útil máxima
180 kg
Autonomía
17 horas
Techo de servicio
18.000 ft
Envergadura
10,5 m
Longitud
6,1 m en la ficha técnica de MINDEF Singapore
Velocidad de crucero
70 kt en la ficha técnica de MINDEF Singapore
Motor
Motor Wankel R802 (351 cc) en la ficha técnica de MINDEF Singapore
Opciones de carga útil
EO/IR/láser, SAR/GMTI/MPR + AIS, ELINT, EW, COMINT, interferencia de comunicaciones, hiperespectral y cargas útiles de escaneo de gran área
Control terrestre
Sistema de control terrestre Hermes; Elbit dice que dos misiones concurrentes pueden ejecutarse desde un GCS usando dos terminales de datos terrestres
Horas de vuelo operacionales
Más de 300.000 horas de vuelo operacionales en material de producto de Elbit
Mission Architecture

El material público de Elbit presenta el Hermes 450 como un UAS táctico construido en torno a cargas útiles modulares y control desde estación terrestre, no como un único kit de misión fijo. La misma célula aparece en contextos de vigilancia, apoyo de designación de blancos y ataque armado, según el operador y el teatro.

Configuración de carga útil

Elbit enumera opciones de carga útil EO/IR/láser, SAR/GMTI/MPR, COMINT/COMMJAM, ELINT, hiperespectral y de escaneo de gran área, incluidas configuraciones seleccionadas de doble carga útil.

Fuentes: Elbit Hermes 450 Tactical Drone; Hermes 450 brochure PDF.

Modelo de control

La gestión de misión se realiza mediante el sistema de control terrestre Hermes; Elbit dice que un GCS puede ejecutar dos misiones concurrentes usando dos terminales de datos terrestres.

Fuente: Elbit Hermes 450 Tactical Drone.

Transporte armado

Las afirmaciones de transporte respaldadas por fuentes identifican municiones Hellfire, Spike y de la familia Mikholit, mientras que la evidencia directa por teatro distingue dónde la aeronave está documentada como activo de ataque armado.

Fuentes: DIMSE Hermes page; Drone Wars UK: Israel and the Drone Wars; OSMP: Mikholit.

Variants

El Hermes 450 es la base Zik más pequeña de la familia de UAS tácticos Hermes de Elbit; fuentes públicas también lo vinculan con el Hermes 900, más grande, y con el derivado británico Watchkeeper.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Hermes 450 / ZikUAS táctico de base

Elbit describe el Hermes 450 como un dron táctico polivalente con más de 300.000 horas de vuelo operacionales; informes israelíes identifican el nombre en servicio de la IAF como The Spark, o Zik.

Sources: Elbit Hermes 450 Tactical Drone, Times of Israel: Hermes 900 joins Hermes 450

Hermes 900 unmanned aircraft, Medium-altitude long-endurance UAV, Aircraft & UAVsHermes 900 unmanned aircraftUAS más grande de la familia Hermes

The Times of Israel describió el Hermes 900 como un sistema más grande de la familia Hermes que se incorporaba al Hermes 450 en servicio de la Fuerza Aérea Israelí.

Sources: Times of Israel: Hermes 900 joins Hermes 450

Watchkeeper WK450Derivado británico

Elbit identifica el Hermes 450 como la columna vertebral del programa británico Watchkeeper.

Sources: Elbit Hermes 450 Tactical Drone

Municiones transportadas

informes y páginas de producto respaldados por fuentes identifican el Hermes 450 como portador de misiles y bombas planeadoras específicos.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
AGM-114 Hellfire missile family, Air-to-surface missile family, MunitionsAGM-114 Hellfire missile familyFamilia de misiles aire-tierra

Business Standard describe el Hermes 450 como un UAV de asalto equipado con dos misiles Hellfire, y Aviation Today también dice que el UAV Hermes 450 de gran autonomía puede portar misiles Hellfire.

Sources: Business Standard: Hermes 450 equipped with two Hellfire missiles, Aviation Today: Hermes 450 can carry Hellfire missiles

SPIKE anti-tank guided-missile family, Anti-tank guided missile family, Infantry WeaponsSPIKE anti-tank guided-missile familyFamilia de misiles guiados antitanque

DIMSE dice que el Hermes 450 puede portar cuatro misiles aire-tierra Spike de medio alcance, y Drone Wars UK informa que drones Hermes 450 estuvieron armados con misiles Spike, incluido un Hermes 450 armado de la IAF que disparó un misil antitanque Spike.

Sources: DIMSE Hermes page, Drone Wars UK: Israel and the Drone Wars

Mikholit glide bomb, Small guided glide bomb, MunitionsMikholit glide bombBomba planeadora guiada

OSMP dice que la Mikholit puede desplegarse mediante UAV, incluidos los modelos Hermes 450 y Hermes 900.

Sources: OSMP: Mikholit

Timeline

Aeronave no tripulada armada Hermes 450 Key Events

  1. Caballo de batalla UAV de la Segunda Guerra del Líbano

    RAND describió el Hermes 450 como un UAV israelí central en la guerra del Líbano de 2006, incluido el apoyo con imágenes en tiempo real y coordenadas de blancos para aeronaves de ataque.

    Sources: RAND: Air Operations in Israel's War Against Hezbollah

  2. Uso británico en Afganistán

    El UK Ministry of Defence dijo que el sistema H450 del British Army apoyó a Task Force Helmand en Afganistán con reconocimiento, adquisición de blancos y video de movimiento completo.

    Sources: GOV.UK Hermes UAV Afghanistan milestone

  3. Uso en Operation Cast Lead

    Un informe del UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee afirmó que las IDF usaron aeronaves Hermes 450 durante Operation Cast Lead.

    Sources: UK Parliament: Hermes 450 during Operation Cast Lead

  4. informes sobre Operation Protective Edge

    DIMSE identifica el uso de drones Hermes por Israel durante Operation Protective Edge y vincula un relato del ataque en la playa de Gaza de julio de 2014 con un Hermes 450.

    Sources: DIMSE Hermes page

  5. Singapur declara plenamente operacional el H-450

    El Ministry of Defence de Singapur dijo que el Hermes 450 de la Republic of Singapore Air Force alcanzó capacidad operacional plena después de que la RSAF recibiera H-450 en mayo de 2007.

    Sources: RSAF Hermes 450 Fully Operational

  6. Hito de horas operacionales en folleto de Elbit

    El folleto del Hermes 450 de Elbit describió el tipo como probado en combate y con más de 300.000 horas de vuelo operacionales.

    Sources: Hermes 450 brochure PDF

  7. Uso azerbaiyano en conflicto documentado

    Army University Press e informes de Valdai vincularon el inventario de Hermes 450 de Azerbaijan con los combates de Nagorno-Karabakh de 2020.

    Sources: The 44-Day War in Nagorno-Karabakh, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles over Nagorno-Karabakh

  8. Drones Zik en la guerra contra Hamás

    La republicación por FDD de informes de Jerusalem Post identificó drones Hermes 450 Zik del 161 Squadron como parte de la respuesta inicial de Israel a los ataques de Hamás del 7 de octubre.

    Sources: FDD/Jerusalem Post: Hermes 450 Zik drones in Hamas war

  9. Hermes 450 derribado sobre el sur del Líbano

    The Times of Israel informó que Hezbollah dijo que derribó un Hermes 450 de la Fuerza Aérea Israelí sobre Aaichiyeh, en el sur del Líbano.

    Sources: Israeli drone downed by Hezbollah missile over south Lebanon

  10. Zik reportado sobre Teherán

    CTech e Ynet informaron sobre drones de la familia Zik/Hermes, incluido el Hermes 450, sobre Teherán durante el conflicto Israel-Irán de 2025.

    Sources: CTech War Room: Zik over Tehran, Ynet: Hermes 450 over Tehran

Media

Aeronave no tripulada armada Hermes 450 Videos

Aeronave no tripulada armada Hermes 450 Images

Aeronave no tripulada armada Hermes 450, UAS táctico polivalente, Aeronaves y UAV - view 1
Source: RamatDavid 020517 Hermes 450 01.jpg on Wikimedia Commons
Aeronave no tripulada armada Hermes 450, UAS táctico polivalente, Aeronaves y UAV - view 2
Source: Hermes 450 take off.jpg on Wikimedia Commons
Related Weapon Systems
Hermes 900 unmanned aircraft, Medium-altitude long-endurance UAV, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsHermes 900 unmanned aircraftMedium-altitude long-endurance UAVElbit's Hermes 900 Kochav is an Israeli medium-altitude long-endurance UAV family with 36-hour endurance, a 350 kg baseline payload, and modular ISR, electronic-intelligence, communications-relay, maritime-patrol, and wide-area surveillance payload options. First flown in 2009, it entered Israeli combat use during the 2014 Gaza War and has since appeared in Azerbaijani and Israeli conflict documentation, while the StarLiner branch adds civil-airspace certification and heavier payload capacity for non-segregated airspace missions.
IAI Heron UAV, Medium-altitude long-endurance UAV, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsIAI Heron UAVMedium-altitude long-endurance UAVThe IAI Heron is an Israeli medium-altitude long-endurance UAV family built for persistent ISR, target acquisition, maritime patrol, and multi-sensor surveillance missions. IAI describes Heron 1, known in Israeli service as Shoval, and Heron Mk II as SATCOM-capable MALE platforms with automatic taxi, takeoff, and landing, while conflict sourcing ties the family to Israeli operations in Gaza and Iran, Azerbaijani reconnaissance and targeting in Nagorno-Karabakh, and Indian Heron Mk II operations during Operation Sindoor.
Aeronautics Orbiter 3 UAV, Small tactical unmanned aircraft system, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAeronautics Orbiter 3 UAVSmall tactical unmanned aircraft systemThe Aeronautics Orbiter 3 is a fully electric, runway-independent small tactical UAS built for ISTAR missions and modular payloads. Aeronautics now advertises up to 10 hours of endurance, launcher-and-parachute recovery or an add-on VTOL kit, and payload options that include EO/IR, ELINT, COMINT, EW, SAR, VMD, and MTI. Azerbaijan fielded Orbiter 3s in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and Aeronautics later announced Greek procurement activity in 2023.
Aeronautics Orbiter 2, Mini unmanned aerial system, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAeronautics Orbiter 2Mini unmanned aerial systemThe Aeronautics Orbiter 2 is an Israeli fixed-wing mini-UAS for tactical ISR, target acquisition, surveillance, and payload-flexible mission support. Current Aeronautics material presents the Orbiter 2 ISR as a 13 kg, catapult-launched system with EO/IR, electronic-intelligence, communications-intelligence, electronic-warfare, video-processing, and jammer payload options, while Azerbaijan assembled Orbiter-family UAVs through Azad Systems and fielded Orbiter-2 reconnaissance drones in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
IAI Heron TP, Strategic medium-altitude long-endurance UAV, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsIAI Heron TPStrategic medium-altitude long-endurance UAVThe IAI Heron TP is the large strategic member of Israel Aerospace Industries' Heron UAV family, known in Israeli Air Force service as Eitan. It is built for long-range, high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance, and multi-payload missions, with official specifications listing a 5,670 kg maximum takeoff weight, more than 30 hours endurance, beyond-line-of-sight SATCOM operation, and payload capacity far above the smaller Heron 1. Conflict sourcing ties the type to Israeli Operation Cast Lead ISR, Iron Swords surveillance sorties, and Operation Rising Lion missions over Iran, while official German program sources document a customized German Heron TP configuration for Bundeswehr ISR service.
IAI Searcher UAV, Tactical reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsIAI Searcher UAVTactical reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicleThe IAI Searcher is an Israeli tactical UAV family built by Israel Aerospace Industries for surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, artillery adjustment, and battle-damage assessment. Searcher Mk II and Mk III extended the line with longer endurance, heavier payload options, and export service, including Sri Lankan Air Force use in the civil war and Azerbaijani reconnaissance/fire-control use in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Sources

Elbit Hermes 450 Tactical DronePublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Official product page for the Hermes 450's manufacturer, tactical UAS role, payload options, combat-proven background, and Watchkeeper program relationship. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Hermes 450 brochure PDFPublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Official brochure listing Hermes 450 performance figures including 550 kg takeoff weight, 180 kg payload, 17-hour endurance, 18,000 ft service ceiling, 10.5 m wingspan, and 300,000-plus operational flight hours. | Accessed: 2026-07-02IDF strikes two in Gaza with Hermes 450Publisher: The Times of Israel | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct conflict-use: the Israeli Air Force used a Hermes 450 in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War for a February 2025 Rafah strike in Gaza. | Accessed: 2026-07-02FDD/Jerusalem Post: Hermes 450 Zik drones in Hamas warPublisher: Foundation for Defense of Democracies | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct conflict-use: FDD's republication of Jerusalem Post reporting says Israel's 161 Squadron flew Hermes 450 Zik drones during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War for early-war defense, identification, tracking, surveillance, and strike missions. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Independent: Hermes 450 in WCK convoy strikePublisher: The Independent | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct conflict-use: The Independent reported that the April 2024 World Central Kitchen convoy strike in Gaza involved Hermes 450 drones, citing military sources and expert assessment. | Accessed: 2026-07-02GOV.UK Hermes UAV Afghanistan milestonePublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct conflict-use: British forces operated the H450 Hermes system in Afghanistan for reconnaissance, target acquisition, full-motion video, and ISTAR support to Task Force Helmand. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Operation Herrick Aircraft StatisticsPublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct conflict-use: UK Ministry of Defence statistics list British Army Hermes UAS flying more than 85,000 hours in Afghanistan and state that British Army UAS in the release were unarmed. | Accessed: 2026-07-02RAND: Air Operations in Israel's War Against HezbollahPublisher: RAND Corporation | Note: Supports 2006 Lebanon War direct conflict-use: RAND describes Israeli Air Force Hermes 450 UAV employment in Operation Change of Direction, including real-time target imagery and coordinate support to strike aircraft during the 2006 Lebanon War. | Accessed: 2026-07-02UK Parliament: Hermes 450 during Operation Cast LeadPublisher: UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee | Note: Supports 2008 Gaza War direct conflict-use: the committee report states that the IDF used Hermes 450 aircraft during Operation Cast Lead. | Accessed: 2026-07-02MINDEF Singapore Hermes 450 UAV Fact SheetPublisher: Ministry of Defence Singapore | Note: Official Singapore fact sheet supporting Hermes 450 length, cruise speed, Wankel R802 engine, ground-control-station operation, autonomous flight mode, and EO/IR/laser designator payload context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02RSAF Hermes 450 Fully OperationalPublisher: Ministry of Defence Singapore | Note: Official Singapore release supporting the RSAF's 2015 full operational capability milestone for H-450 UAVs and May 2007 delivery context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Unmanned Aerial Vehicles over Nagorno-KarabakhPublisher: Valdai Discussion Club | Note: Supports 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict direct conflict-use: Hermes 450 UAVs were used by Azerbaijani forces for reconnaissance and fire-control missions in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict. | Accessed: 2026-07-02The 44-Day War in Nagorno-KarabakhPublisher: Army University Press | Note: Supports 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict direct conflict-use: Elbit Hermes 450/900 UAVs were fielded by Azerbaijani forces as part of the UAV fleet used in the 44-day 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Israeli drone downed by Hezbollah missile over south LebanonPublisher: The Times of Israel | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict direct conflict-use: used by the Israeli Air Force in the 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict over southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah said it shot down an Elbit Hermes 450 over Aaichiyeh on April 22, 2024. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Times of Israel: Hermes 900 joins Hermes 450Publisher: The Times of Israel | Note: Supports Hermes-family variant context: Israeli reporting says the larger Hermes 900, named Kochav or The Star, joined the Hermes 450, known as Zik or The Spark, in Israeli Air Force service. | Accessed: 2026-07-02CTech War Room: Zik over TehranPublisher: CTech | Note: Supports 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict direct conflict-use: CTech reported Zik/Hermes-family Israeli drones operating over Tehran against senior IRGC officers and mobile anti-aircraft launchers. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Ynet: Hermes 450 over TehranPublisher: Ynet News | Note: Supports 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict direct conflict-use: Ynet reported that Israeli Air Force drones, particularly Hermes 450 and other Elbit Hermes-family models, were active over Tehran during Operation Rising Lion against IRGC officials and mobile anti-aircraft launchers. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Hermes-450.jpg on Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image source for an Israeli Air Force Hermes 450 in flight; Commons file page shows CC BY-SA 3.0 licensing and attribution details. | Accessed: 2026-07-02RamatDavid 020517 Hermes 450 01.jpg on Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image source for a Hermes 450 display at Ramat David Air Base; Commons file page shows CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing and attribution details. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Hermes 450 take off.jpg on Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image source for a Hermes 450 takeoff photo; Commons file page identifies the image as a U.S. Department of Homeland Security public-domain work. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Business Standard: Hermes 450 equipped with two Hellfire missilesPublisher: Business Standard | Note: Supports carried-by evidence for the Hermes 450 armed unmanned aircraft: reporting describes the platform as an assault UAV equipped with two Hellfire missiles. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Aviation Today: Hermes 450 can carry Hellfire missilesPublisher: Aviation Today | Note: Supports carried-by evidence for the Hermes 450 armed unmanned aircraft: reporting says the long-endurance UAV can carry Hellfire missiles. | Accessed: 2026-07-02DIMSE Hermes pagePublisher: DIMSE | Note: Supports carried-by and conflict-use evidence for the Hermes 450: DIMSE says the Hermes 450 can carry four Spike medium-range air-to-ground missiles, identifies Israeli Hermes drone use during Operation Protective Edge, and cites Hermes 450 involvement in the 2024 World Central Kitchen convoy strike. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Drone Wars UK: Precise Strikes, Fractured Bodies, Fractured LivesPublisher: Drone Wars UK | Note: Supports 2014 Gaza War direct conflict-use: the report describes Israeli drone use during Operation Protective Edge and cites reporting that a Hermes 450 captured footage during the Gaza beach strike chain that killed four Bakr family boys in July 2014. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Drone Wars UK: Israel and the Drone WarsPublisher: Drone Wars UK | Note: Supports carried-by and background evidence for the Hermes 450 armed unmanned aircraft: the report describes Hermes 450 drones armed with Spike missiles, an IAF Hermes 450 that fired a Spike anti-tank missile, and UK leased Hermes 450 operations in Afghanistan. | Accessed: 2026-07-02OSMP: MikholitPublisher: Open Source Munitions Portal | Note: Supports carried-by evidence for the Hermes 450 armed unmanned aircraft: the Mikholit page says the bomb can be deployed via UAV, including the Hermes 450. | Accessed: 2026-07-02