Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) of all sorts are playing a greater role in combat. Looking to expand the UAV envelope, Israeli company Elbit Systems unveiled a maritime concept that converts civilian/commercial cargo ships into dedicated UAV-launching platforms, centred on the Hermes 650 Spark fixed-wing UAV systems. According to company sources, each converted vessel would carry 9–12 Hermes 650 Spark UAVs, plus deck infrastructure, control systems, and mission support. Elbit’s solution integrates AI and laser-detection systems that predict deck movement during landings, with drones stored in climate-controlled, salt-resistant containers. The concept has a notable precedent: Iran’s Shahid Mahdavi proved that a civilian cargo ship can be converted into a forward-operating drone base.