Blab AI
Israeli UAVs Deploy AI-Driven Targeting Over Gaza and Lebanon
Elbit Systems’ Hermes 450 Zik and Hermes 900 Kochav drones have been patrolling Gaza and Lebanon nonstop, guided by artificial‑intelligence software that can spot targets, decide on engagement, and sync with Israeli forces at every level.
According to documents released to Haaretz, the drones carry a system dubbed "Server in the Sky." On‑board computers run AI algorithms that sift through sensor data, classify and track targets, and relay information straight to command, pilots and ground troops. The system also manages a fleet of UAVs within a defined area, automatically reallocating missions if a drone is lost or cloud cover obscures a target.
The Hermes 450, in service since 1998, can lift up to 150 kg of payload—including electro‑optical cameras, synthetic‑aperture radar, and electronic‑intelligence gear—launch up to four air‑to‑ground missiles, and stay aloft for over 20 hours. Its successor, the Hermes 900, introduced a decade later, can carry up to 350 kg, fire eight missiles, and fly for nearly 35 hours. Both models deliver close‑air support in urban settings and create a 360‑degree protective shield for ground troops.
A second payload, the Wide‑Area Persistent Surveillance (WAPS) system, debuted at the Paris Air Show and has since been highlighted after successes in recent operations. WAPS adds a ten‑camera electro‑optical array that can cover about 80 km²—roughly a quarter of Gaza—allowing simultaneous monitoring of multiple sectors. The system can rewind video in real time, letting investigators trace the path of a projectile or individual after an event.
The drones also serve counter‑drone roles. The electro‑optical system on the Kochav, paired with Server in the Sky, can detect aircraft entering Israeli airspace from Lebanon and Syria. This capability arose after a 2021 incident in which a Hezbollah drone destroyed a surveillance balloon that had been deployed to fill radar gaps.
During the 2023 Gaza war, the drones’ flight rate increased fivefold after Operation Al‑Aqsa Storm, and they monitored almost all areas of the Gaza Strip for reconnaissance and target classification, including the activity of resistance‑group drones.
Elbit Systems, alongside Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries, accounted for 4 % of Israel’s $20 billion in military exports in 2025. Major buyers include Azerbaijan, Brazil, Mexico, Switzerland, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and the European Union.
In March 2026, the Israeli military confirmed that its AI infrastructure was fully activated in a system called "Storm Clouds." The system manages groups of drones for intelligence gathering and attack, using computer programs to identify targets in video imagery, map positions, and share data with Israeli forces in real time.
The combination of long‑endurance UAVs, on‑board AI decision making, and persistent surveillance payloads marks a significant evolution in Israel’s air‑domain capabilities. The drones’ ability to autonomously shift missions, detect other aircraft, and provide real‑time target classification has been described in the documents as giving the system a "central position in combat."
The continued deployment of these drones, along with the expansion of AI‑driven targeting, will likely influence future procurement decisions and the design of next‑generation UAVs in the region.
The story remains under close observation as Israel’s military continues to refine its AI‑enabled drone operations and as international partners assess the implications of these technologies for regional security and humanitarian considerations.
According to documents released to Haaretz, the drones carry a system dubbed "Server in the Sky." On‑board computers run AI algorithms that sift through sensor data, classify and track targets, and relay information straight to command, pilots and ground troops. The system also manages a fleet of UAVs within a defined area, automatically reallocating missions if a drone is lost or cloud cover obscures a target.
The Hermes 450, in service since 1998, can lift up to 150 kg of payload—including electro‑optical cameras, synthetic‑aperture radar, and electronic‑intelligence gear—launch up to four air‑to‑ground missiles, and stay aloft for over 20 hours. Its successor, the Hermes 900, introduced a decade later, can carry up to 350 kg, fire eight missiles, and fly for nearly 35 hours. Both models deliver close‑air support in urban settings and create a 360‑degree protective shield for ground troops.
A second payload, the Wide‑Area Persistent Surveillance (WAPS) system, debuted at the Paris Air Show and has since been highlighted after successes in recent operations. WAPS adds a ten‑camera electro‑optical array that can cover about 80 km²—roughly a quarter of Gaza—allowing simultaneous monitoring of multiple sectors. The system can rewind video in real time, letting investigators trace the path of a projectile or individual after an event.
The drones also serve counter‑drone roles. The electro‑optical system on the Kochav, paired with Server in the Sky, can detect aircraft entering Israeli airspace from Lebanon and Syria. This capability arose after a 2021 incident in which a Hezbollah drone destroyed a surveillance balloon that had been deployed to fill radar gaps.
During the 2023 Gaza war, the drones’ flight rate increased fivefold after Operation Al‑Aqsa Storm, and they monitored almost all areas of the Gaza Strip for reconnaissance and target classification, including the activity of resistance‑group drones.
Elbit Systems, alongside Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries, accounted for 4 % of Israel’s $20 billion in military exports in 2025. Major buyers include Azerbaijan, Brazil, Mexico, Switzerland, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and the European Union.
In March 2026, the Israeli military confirmed that its AI infrastructure was fully activated in a system called "Storm Clouds." The system manages groups of drones for intelligence gathering and attack, using computer programs to identify targets in video imagery, map positions, and share data with Israeli forces in real time.
The combination of long‑endurance UAVs, on‑board AI decision making, and persistent surveillance payloads marks a significant evolution in Israel’s air‑domain capabilities. The drones’ ability to autonomously shift missions, detect other aircraft, and provide real‑time target classification has been described in the documents as giving the system a "central position in combat."
The continued deployment of these drones, along with the expansion of AI‑driven targeting, will likely influence future procurement decisions and the design of next‑generation UAVs in the region.
The story remains under close observation as Israel’s military continues to refine its AI‑enabled drone operations and as international partners assess the implications of these technologies for regional security and humanitarian considerations.
