German Navy Gets New Advanced Maritime Rotary UAV

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The German Navy gets a new airborne reconnaissance technology. The new, unmanned, airborne system, a NATO-compliant heavy fuel rotary UAV SKELDAR V-200, is scheduled to be deployed from the German Navy Corvette Class 130 by the end of 2019. The SKELDAR V-200B variant unmanned helicopter will provide additional reconnaissance capabilities extending existing onboard sensors through in-flight real-time imagery and intelligence gathering.

The system was ordered from UMS SKELDAR, a provider of rotary UAV solutions and avionics software. The contract was awarded through Munich-based partner and prime contractor Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH (ESG). The procurement includes a SKELDAR V-200 unmanned aircraft system consisting of two unmanned aerial vehicles as sensor carriers, integration of the system into the Class 130 Corvette, a spare parts package and training of ship-borne operators and maintenance personnel, according to suasnews.com.

Designed for civilian and military missions, the system benefits from a common control concept and user interface in the context of command, control and payload management. It is equipped with multiple capabilities including surveillance and 3-D mapping, providing an edge in any environment – day or night, according to the company website.

Provided ready for seaborne missions, with multiple payload options, the maritime rotary unmanned aerial system is suitable for C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) including battlefield situations, border surveillance and security patrols, as well as SAR (Search and Rescue) roles. It is also suited to a range of civilian applications, e.g. oil exploration platforms.

Speaking of the naval focus for UMS SKELDAR, Axel Cavalli-Björkman, CEO of the UAV joint venture between Sweden’s Saab and UMS AERO of Switzerland explained: “SKELDAR V-200 was conceived as a maritime platform, and we have continued a program of enhancements including technical, sensor and flight endurance along with our superior industry-leading engine manufactured by German-based Hirth Engines. The unmatched flight endurance and time between overhauls (TBO) make our system first choice for navy commanders.”

The aircraft has a double payload capability and uniquely incorporates Heavy Fuel. Payload can include an off-the-shelf high-resolution Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Electronic Warfare (EW) sensors.