[SatNews] The ADS 95 Ranger reconnaissance drone system, which the Swiss Armed Forces have been operating since 2001, will be replaced by the year 2020.

The choice of the new model provides the basis for the dispatch on procurement. Under the 2015 arms procurement program, efforts are underway to replace the current UAV system, which is reaching the end of its life cycle. In order to ensure its replacement in good time, the new model has been selected, which allows the procurement to be drawn up.

The model that has been selected is the "Hermes 900 HFE," manufactured by Elbit Systems of Israel. The Hermes 900 HFE is an unarmed reconnaissance drone system and was selected as the aircraft delivered better overall result in all assessed criteria.

The Hermes 900 HFE system is an all-weather unarmed reconnaissance drone system that is more flexible, has longer endurance in the air and a wider operational range than the system currently in use.

The new UAVs are unarmed. Currently, combat drones are not an option for the DDPS. The use of the UAV will be explained extensively in the context of the dispatch on procurement, the Armed Forces Development Program and the Security Policy Report. The decision to procure the new reconnaissance drone system (ADS 15), which will cost around 250 million francs, will most probably be submitted for approval to Parliament with the 2015 armaments program.

Additional information is available at this infopage.