Elbit Systems has been awarded a $200 million contract from the Swiss Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport ("DDPS"), for the supply of Hermes 900 HFE (Heavy Fuel Engine) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and an advanced ground segment for command, control and communications.

The contract, to be performed over a four-year period, follows the DDPS June 2014 announcement about Elbit Systems selection as the preferred supplier for the UAS 15 new reconnaissance drone program.

The Hermes 900 HFE system, to be supplied to the Swiss Air Force, is an advanced adverse-weather unarmed reconnaissance UAS, offering improved operational capabilities.

Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems commented: "Switzerland is a very important market for Elbit Systems, and we are very proud of the DDPS' decision to choose us as the supplier of the Hermes 900 HFE, a high-end and market leading platform.

"The DDPS selection attests to our innovative and technological leadership in the area of UAS, supported by the maturity of our systems. We hope this project will pave the way for additional projects both in Switzerland and worldwide".