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| The actual Hermes 450 UAV provided by Elbit Systems as a freebie as part of the deal with the DND and PAF. Photo exclusively shared by source to MaxDefense. |
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is expected to receive a complete system of the Elbit Systems Ltd Hermes 450 medium altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV), which is part of their Unmanned Aerial Systems (Level 3) acquisition project under the Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.
The Hermes 450 is expected to become the first MALE UAV in service with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as it is scheduled to be delivered earlier than the bulk of UAS ordered from Elbit Systems.
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| Photo taken from Israeli Weapons website. |
Project Summary:
Unmanned Aerial System (Level 3) Acquisition Project (Partial) - Hermes 450 MALE UAS
Note: Edited as of 29 June 2019.
* End User: Philippine Air Force (300th Air Intelligence & Security Wing)
* Quantity: 1 system
* Modernization Phase: Horizon 2 Phase of RAFPMP
* Project ABC: Php8,470,000,000.00
* Acquisition Mode: Government-to-Government (G2G) between Philippine Department of National Defense and Israel Ministry of Defense
* Source of Funding: GAA Funds through AFP Modernization Program Trust Fund, to be paid via Multi-Year Obligation Authority (MYOA) process.
* Winning Proponent: Elbit Systems Ltd.
* Contract Price: Php8,470,000,000.00 for entire project
* First post by MaxDefense: 08 August 2017
* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PAFUASAcquisition #PAFHermes450UAS
* Status: awaiting delivery, first batch by 2019.
Inclusions:
The PAF will receive a total of 1 complete Hermes 450 unmanned aerial system includes three (3) Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as ground control systems, support equipment, mission payload, and Integrated Logistics System (ILS) including training, technical support, and other requirement.
As part of the deal, Elbit Systems Ltd is also providing an extra Hermes 450 UAV, although this is not a new unit and will be used initially as an advance training platform while the new units are being manufactured.
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| The deal includes ground control systems for the UAVs, |
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U P D A T E S:
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Note: This is the first of our new Modernization Project page, which focuses on individual modernization projects of the Philippine government's armed services including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police.
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08 August 2017:
MaxDefense first mentioned about the possibility of considering the Hermes 450 as part of the planned acquisition of Level 3 UAS in our blog dated 8 August 2017. This was after MaxDefense received confirmation that the PAF has selected the larger, more expensive Hermes 900 as its future long range surveillance UAV.
"Philippine Air Force to Procure Elbit's Hermes 900 Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV Under Horizon 2 Phase" - first posted 08 August 2017.
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22 August 2018:
MaxDefense exclusively reported that based on information received, the PAF will indeed acquire the Hermes 450 UAS as part of the Unmanned Aerial Systems (Level 3) acquisition project. The post also confirmed the order for Hermes 900 MALE UAS in addition to the Hermes 450.
It was also reported that the first Hermes 450 will arrive by August 2018 if the Letter of Credit was released in April 2018, and will allow PAF personnel to locally train on the type
"First Hermes 450 UAV for the Philippine Air Force Scheduled to Arrive Soon"
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| An Elbit Hermes 450 UAV shown in Brazilian Air Force colors. Photo taken from Jane's 360. |
08 October 2018:
The DND has released an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the construciton of UAV Hangars in three locations, namely Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and an undisclosed location near the Philippine Rise in the eastern seaboard of Luzon.
The total budget allocated for all three locations was Php200,000,000.00.
MaxDefense expect these hangars to be for the Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 MALE UAVs of the PAF.
The Facebook post can be accessed HERE.
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13 November 2018:
An update was made on several AFP Modernization projects, including the PAF's UAS Level 3 acquisition project. No further details provided aside from confirming that this project is ongoing.
"Quick Update on the AFP's Acquisitions Under it's Modernization Program as of November 2018" - first posted 13 November 2018
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20 March 2019:
Due to delays by the Philippine government in the release of the initial payment as indicated in the contract, the delivery of the first batch of Hermes 450 did not push through last August 2018 as planned.
Based on information MaxDefense received last December 2018, the initial payment only pushed through last November 2018, and it will take around 4 to 5 months for Elbit Systems to be able to deliver the first batch.
It is now expected that the first batch of Hermes 450 UAVs will be delivered to the PAF by April or May 2019.
In addition, it appears that the delays has allowed Elbit to also push through with the delivery of a second Hermes 450 UAV, which is a new-build unit, allowing for the delivery of two units instead of just one.
This would definitely be a major development once delivered, and is expected to gain media mileage for the PAF and the Duterte administration.
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| The Elbit Hermes 450 MALE UAV. Photo taken from UPI.com. |
01 July 2019:
This photo was shared to us, showing the first Elbit Hermes 450 UAV of the Philippine Air Force, probably taken in Israel.
Apparently, a source told us that its been sitting in crates in Israel waiting for the Philippine government to release funds before it gets shipped.
It was also said that this unit is the freebie unit which will be used by the PAF to train in UAV ops in the Philippines while the rest of the Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 are being prepared for delivery between now and late 2020.
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| The first PAF Hermes 450 MALE UAV, with serial no. 4001. Photo exclusively shared to MaxDefense. |
04 September 2019:
As posted on our community social media page:
MaxDefense has received information that some of the Elbit Hermes 450 medium altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (MALE UAV) bound for the Philippine Air Force are already in the Philippines, and are undergoing flight tests from Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas.
Below is a photo of one of the 2 delivered Elbit Hermes 450 UAV of the Philippine Air Force as it undergo flight tests in Batangas.
As mentioned by a source who is familiar with the project, the first batch of Hermes 450 were delivered to the PAF in late August 2019. They were then assembled in the Philippines by technicians from Elbit Systems.
Photo was taken by one of our community member, credits to him for this. Watermark necessary as many other pages are using our photos without crediting.
MaxDefense reported before that the PAF is receiving 1 whole Hermes 450 unmanned aerial system with 4 Hermes 450 UAVs as part of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Acquisition Project of the Horizon 2 phase. These would be assigned with the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing of the Philippine Air Force.
It would be remembered that this first batch should have been delivered as early as mid-2018 if not only for delays in releasing funds by the DBM, which forced Elbit to hold on to the delivery and production until at least the contract-agreed deposit has been met.
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| A photo of one of the Hermes 450 UAVs undergoing flight tests in Batangas. Photo shared exclusively to MaxDefense by a community member. |
11 September 2019:
MaxDefense received information from sources, that after the successful delivery of two (2) Hermes 450 UAVs by Israel's Elbit Systems, the company is said to deliver the other two (2) UAVs plus several ground control equipment and other components before yearend.
No exact month was provided yet although MaxDefense expects to receive updates before the delivery happens.
The PAF ordered 1 unmanned aerial system (UAS) using the Hermes 450 UAV, with 4 UAVs as part of the system.
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12 September 2019:
A proof that the Philippine Air Force is already in possession of the first batch of Hermes 450 UAV. The photo below was taken together with PAF training aircraft with the Air Education Training Command (AETC) in Fernando Air Base, Lipa City.
Photo shared exclusively to MaxDefense by one of our source.
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First edit and release: 31 March 2019
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines
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