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The Saab Skeldar is a medium-range VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) developed by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. Missions for the Skeldar involves surveillance, intelligence gathering, light cargo transportation and electronic warfare.
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Development
The Skeldar is a derivate from CybAero’s APID 55 UAV system, 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, EO/IR 3D Mapping, a light cargo hook and SIGINT (Signals Intelligence)
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 (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.
In the end of 2015 Saab partnered with UMS and created the company UMS Skeldar.
Operators
Specifications
Source: Saab Skeldar V-200 Technical specifications
Length: 4 m
Width: 1.2 m
Height: 1.3 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