Saab Skeldar


The Saab Skeldar is a medium-range VTOL UAV developed by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. Missions for the Skeldar involves surveillance, intelligence gathering, light cargo transportation and electronic warfare.

Development

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

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 3D mapping, a light cargo hook and SIGINT
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.
For naval operations the control station can be integrated into a ships normal operator consoles and combat management systems.
In 2009 Saab partnered with Swiss UAV to jointly develop and market three VTOL 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.
In the end of 2015 Saab partnered with UMS and created the company UMS Skeldar.
In September 2018, UMS Skeldar V-200B was selected by the German Navy for use on board K130 Braunschweig class corvettes.

Operators

Source: Saab Skeldar V-200 Technical specifications
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