Boeing and Elbit Systems have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the marketing and sales of Elbit Systems' Hermes 450 and 900 unmanned airborne system (UAS) product lines in the United States and select international countries.

"This partnership further expands and enhances Boeing's longstanding relationship with Elbit Systems to include unmanned products," said Debbie Rub, Boeing Missiles and Unmanned Airborne Systems vice president and general manager.

"The Hermes product line provides a medium-altitude, long-endurance capability that complements the Boeing unmanned portfolio while addressing an important need for U.S. warfighters and allies on today's ever-changing battlefields."

"We are proud to collaborate with Boeing in this important and fast-growing area," said Elad Aharonson, Elbit Systems UAS division general manager. "Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 UAS provide significant and proven operational capabilities and provide added value to our customers."

A multi-role, high-performance tactical UAS and the primary platform of the Israeli Defense Forces in counter-terror operations, Hermes 450 is a mature and combat-proven UAS with more than 400,000 operational flight hours.

The Hermes 900 features over-the-horizon, persistent multi-mission, multi-payload capabilities and can perform missions for area dominance and for persistent intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR).

Hermes 900 also can perform ground support and maritime patrol missions, and offers the capability for integrated multi-platform, multi-sensor operation.

Based on the heritage of the Hermes 450 UAS, the Hermes 900 employs identical building blocks using a larger air vehicle with nearly double the performance.