The Skyblade is a man-portable mini-UAV developed by ST Aerospace, designed to be used by two operators for short-range battlefield or tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting.
Skyblade I: Prototype version. Jointly developed with local research house (DSO National Laboratories)
Skyblade II: Advance Production exploration, gasoline engine. Completely in-house developed. Didn't make it to full production.
Skyblade III: Production version, all electric systems. Jointly developed with local research house (DSO National Laboratories)
The Skyblade III is designed for rapid 2-man deployment to support military and civilian applications. Developed for fully autonomous flight operations, it delivers quick and accurate intelligence in real-time to tactical commanders in the field.
Skyblade IV: New tactical UAV
The SkyBlade IV is completely new a close-range tactical UAV unveiled in Asian Aerospace 2006, with a takeoff weight of 50 kilograms (110 pounds), including a 12 kilogram (26 pound) payload, a torpedo-like fuselage, a straight high-mounted wing with upturned wingtips, cruciform tailfins and a pusher prop driven by a piston engine with an endurance of up to 12 hours. The UAV carries an EO-IR sensor system with STA working on a miniaturized SAR. The vehicle is catapult launched and is recovered via parachutes or catch nets. Skyblade IV can perform a variety of operational missions such as surveillance, reconnaissance, fire support and battle damage assessment.
Skyblade II Prototype
Length: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Wing span: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Operating altitude: 458 m (1500 ft)
Endurance (minimum) (depending on internal combustion or electric version): 1-2 hrs
Stall speed: 18 kts (33 km/h)
Maximum speed: 70 kts (130 km/h)
Operating wind conditions: 20 kts (37 km/h)
Head wind during take-off and landing: 15 kts (28 km/h)
Cross wind during take-off and landing: 10 kts (18 km/h)
Range: up to 8 km line-of-sight
Skyblade III Specifications
Length: 1.4 m
Wing Span: 2.6 m
Maximum Take Off Weight: 5.0 kg
Endurance: >60 mins
Operating Altitude: 300 - 1,500 ft (90- 460m)
Maximum Speed: 35 kts
Range: 8 km
Flight Operation: Fully autonomous from launch to mission execution to recovery
Skyblade IV Specifications
Length: 2.4 m
Wing Span: 3.7 m
Maximum Take Off Weight: 70 kg
Maximum Payload Weight: 12 kg
Endurance: 6 – 12 hrs
Maximum Altitude: 15,000 ft [4,572 m]
Operating Speed: 50 -80 kts
Range: 100 km
Launch: Catapult
Recovery: Parachute
Flight Operation: Fully autonomous
