UMS Skeldar V-200

Skeldar V-200
V-200
Role UAV helicopter
Manufacturer UMS Skeldar
V-150

The UMS Skeldar V-200 is a medium-range helicopter and 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.

Development

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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

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The Skeldar V-200 can take-off and land on an area of 15×15 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 ship's 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]

The Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy Component will use the V-200 on their future MCMV's (mine countermeasure vessels), of which the first will be operational in 2024.[10]

Operators

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 Belgium
 Canada
 Germany
 Indonesia
 Netherlands
 Spain

Specifications (V-200)

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Source: Saab Skeldar V-200 Technical specifications[15][16]

Length: 4.031 m (13.23 ft)
Width: 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
Height: 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
Main Rotor Diameter: 4.6 m (15 ft)
Max takeoff weight: 245 kg (540 lb)
Max takeoff altitude: 2,400 m (7,900 ft)
Payload: 40 kg (88 lb)

Maximum speed: 140 km/h (87 mph)
Mission radius: 100 km (62 mi)
Endurance: +6 hours
Power rating: 55 hp (41 kW)
Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
Takeoff preparation time: <15 min

References

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  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. ^ "Saab | It´s a human right to feel safe".
  9. ^ UMS Skeldar details V-200B development, janes.com, September 4, 2018
  10. ^ City- en Vlissingenklasse mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen (België en Nederland), marineschepen.nl, Jun 14, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "ECA Group selects the UAV SKELDAR V-200 within the Belgium Naval & Robotics mine countermeasures drones system for the Belgian and Royal Netherlands Navies". 8 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
  12. ^ a b "ECA Group selects the UAV SKELDAR V-200 within the Belgium Naval & Robotics mine countermeasures drones system for the Belgian and Royal Netherlands Navies". 8 July 2020. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020.
  13. ^ "QinetiQ Wins C$51m Contract with the Canadian Armed Forces' Unmanned Aircraft System Service program". umsskeldar.aero. Retrieved 22 May 2019.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Skeldar V-200 land, Saab Airborne Solutions Unmanned Aerial Systems, archived from the original on 1 March 2012.
  16. ^ "V-200 Skeldar". UMS Skeldar. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022.
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