Saab Skeldar

The Saab Skeldar is a medium-range VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) developed by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. The Skeldar can be used for surveillance, intelligence gathering, light cargo transportation, and electronic warfare.

Skeldar
V-200
Role UAV helicopter
Manufacturer Saab Group
V-150
V-200

Development

The Skeldar is a derivative of CybAero’s APID 55 UAV system, and its development started in 2005.[1] In June 2006 the Skeldar V-150 was unveiled at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris, France.[2] The Skeldar V-200 is the designation for the developed version of the system.[3]

Design

The Skeldar V-200 can take-off and land on an area of 15x15 meters. Take-off and landings can be made autonomously.

Skeldar V-200 is modular in the sense that payloads can be changed depending on the mission characteristics, for example it can be equipped with laser pointers, range finders, electro-optical & infrared (EO/IR) 3D mapping, a light cargo hook and SIGINT (Signals Intelligence)[4]

The Skeldar V-200 can be operated in both in land and naval operations, by 2–4 people. A UAS Control Station can be integrated into a ground-vehicle such as an APC or truck.[5]

For naval operations the control station can be integrated into a ships normal operator consoles and combat management systems.[6]

In 2009 Saab partnered with Swiss UAV to jointly develop and market three VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) designs: the Skeldar V-200 and Swiss UAV's Neo S-300 and Koax X 240. The three systems can be controlled from a Saab common ground control station.[7]

In the end of 2015 Saab partnered with UMS and created the company UMS Skeldar.[8]

In September 2018, UMS Skeldar V-200B was selected by the German Navy for use on board K130 Braunschweig class corvettes. [9]

Operators
 Indonesia
  • Ministry of Defence[10]
 Spain
 Germany
 Canada

Specifications

Source: Saab Skeldar V-200 Technical specifications[12]

Length: 4 m
Width: 1.2 m
Height: 1.3 m
Main Rotor Diameter: 4.7 m
Max takeoff weight: 235 kg
Max takeoff altitude: 2400 m
Payload: 40 kg

Maximum speed: 140 km/h
Mission radius: 100 km
Endurance: Up to 6 hours
Power rating: 55 hp
Service ceiling: 3000 m
Takeoff preparation time: <15 min

References
  1. "V-150 Skeldar", Flight global.
  2. "Saab unveils new UAV", Flight global, Jun 20, 2006.
  3. "Saab Skeldar, Sweden", Unmanned Aerial vehicles & targets, Jane's.
  4. "Technical specifications", Skeldar V-200, Saab Airborne Solutions Unmanned Aerial Systems.
  5. "Skeldar V-200 land", Airborne Solutions Unmanned Aerial Systems, Saab.
  6. "Technical specifications", Skeldar UAS Control Station, Saab Airborne Solutions Unmanned Aerial Systems.
  7. "Swiss pact expands Saab UAV portfolio", Flight global, May 20, 2009.
  8. http://saabgroup.com/media/news-press/news/2015-12/saab-and-ums-aero-group-ag-establish-new-strategic-partnership-for-unmanned-aerial-vehicles/.
  9. UMS Skeldar details V-200B development, janes.com, September 4, 2018
  10. "Indonesian defence ministry becomes first Skeldar V-200 customer". Naval Today. 15 February 2017. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  11. "QinetiQ Wins C$51m Contract with the Canadian Armed Forces' Unmanned Aircraft System Service program". umsskeldar.aero. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  12. "Technical specifications", Skeldar V-200 land, Saab Airborne Solutions Unmanned Aerial Systems, archived from the original on 1 March 2012.
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