Elbit Systems has secured a $120 million contract to supply its Hermes 900 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to an undisclosed international customer, adding to the growing list of militaries turning to the Israeli-made drone for long-range maritime surveillance.

The Hermes 900, Elbit’s flagship Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) platform, has steadily become one of Israel’s most widely exported unmanned systems. Since its first delivery in 2011, the aircraft has been adopted by more than 20 countries, from Latin America to Europe and Asia. Its endurance of up to 36 hours, 30,000-foot ceiling, and modular design capable of carrying a wide mix of payloads have made it a flexible workhorse for militaries with broad intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) needs.

The latest contract underscores a trend in the global market: demand for unmanned platforms that can sustain persistent patrols over vast maritime zones. With coastal nations increasingly concerned about illegal fishing, smuggling, and territorial disputes, drones like the Hermes 900 are filling a critical surveillance gap once shouldered by manned patrol aircraft.

Industry observers note that the Hermes 900 has also gained traction by offering proven operational pedigree. The system has flown extensively with the Israel Defense Forces and has seen deployments in varied environments, from the Mediterranean to the Pacific. Its payload options — including electro-optical sensors, synthetic aperture radar, maritime patrol radar, and electronic warfare suites — allow operators to tailor the platform to their specific mission sets.

While Elbit did not disclose the identity of the latest buyer, the deal comes as the company reports strong financial performance, with $2.0 billion in second-quarter revenues and an order backlog approaching $24 billion.