Elbit Hermes 650 Spark: Turning Commercial Ships Into Unmanned Drone Carriers

•  Compact maritime drone carrier concept: Elbit's Hermes 650 Spark enables converting commercial vessels into floating UAV bases, offering long-range unmanned airpower without the massive cost of a traditional aircraft carrier.
• Purpose-built aircraft design: The Hermes 650 Spark features a front-mounted engine for greater power, STOL capability, dual payload bays, and satellite communications—optimized for demanding maritime missions from short-deck ships.
• Operational flexibility and integration: Compatible with existing Hermes 900 ground control infrastructure, the system allows mixed-fleet operations, distributed mission control, and reduced manpower requirements for navies monitoring vast maritime spaces.

Elbit Systems' Hermes 650 Spark is a maritime unmanned aircraft designed to operate from converted commercial vessels, carrying 9–12 platforms per ship. With a front-mounted engine enabling STOL capability, dual payload bays, and satcom, it bridges the gap between limited small drones and expensive naval helicopters. The system is compatible with existing Hermes 900 ground control infrastructure, enabling mixed-fleet operations with distributed mission control between land and ship. Aimed at countries like Japan, Denmark, and Germany that must monitor vast maritime areas, the concept offers a cost-effective "floating drone base"—extending naval reach without requiring aircraft carrier-scale investments

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