Elbit Systems unveils maritime UAV carrier concept for cargo ships

Israeli defence company Elbit Systems presented a maritime concept that would turn civilian cargo vessels into dedicated launch and recovery platforms for its Hermes 650 Spark fixed‑wing UAVs. Each converted ship could host nine to twelve Hermes 650 Spark drones, equipped with climate‑controlled, salt‑resistant containers, AI‑driven laser‑detection landing aids and deck‑motion prediction systems. The vessels would be operated from the same land‑based ground control station used for the larger Hermes 900, reducing the need for separate ship‑board crews.

The concept, still at the proposal stage, cites the Iranian "Shahid Mahdavi" conversion as a precedent but adds extensive automation and NATO‑compliant (STANAG 4671) capabilities. Elbit has not announced a customer, conversion partner, flight‑test schedule, or service‑entry timeline.

The proposal reflects the growing role of UAVs in modern combat, driven by experiences in Ukraine and the recent conflict with Iran, and aims to extend ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance) reach beyond the radar horizon from sea‑based platforms.