Switzerland intends to cancel deal to purchase Israeli “Hermes 900” drones

SANAA, July 13 (YPA) – The Swiss government intends to cancel the deal to purchase “Hermes 900” reconnaissance drones manufactured by the Israeli company Elbit Systems, due to what were described as serious technical failures in the aircraft.

It was noted that the new aircraft promises more than it actually performs.

The Swiss newspaper NZZ reported that “the technical problems with the reconnaissance aircraft were apparently so serious that it had to be escorted by a helicopter or another aircraft to avoid a collision.”

The main problem is related to a system known as “Detect and Avoid,” according to the Finance Committee of the Swiss Federal Assembly.

The “Hermes 900” is considered highly risky in terms of technical feasibility, licensing, and costs, which prompted the Swiss Ministry of Defense to study the option of canceling the $380 million deal with Elbit Systems.

The six Hermes 900 drones were scheduled to meet the requirements set by the Israeli company by 2029.