UMS Skeldar

UMS Skeldar is a Swedish aerospace company based in Linköping, established in late 2015 through a partnership between Saab and UMS. The firm develops the Skeldar V-200, a medium-range vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The Skeldar V-200 is a derivative of CybAero’s APID 55 UAV system, with development tracing back to 2005 when Saab began working on the platform. The V-150 variant was first unveiled at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris in June 2006, followed by the V-200 designation for the developed version. In 2009, Saab partnered with Swiss UAV to jointly develop and market three VTOL designs, including the Skeldar V-200, which can be controlled from a common ground control station.

The Skeldar V-200 is a helicopter-type UAV capable of autonomous take-off and landing on a 15×15 meter area. It is modular, allowing for various payload configurations depending on mission requirements, including electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors, laser pointers, range finders, 3D mapping equipment, SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) gear, and a light cargo hook. The system has an endurance of over six hours, a maximum speed of 140 km/h, and a mission radius of 100 km. It is designed for both land and naval operations, operable by two to four people. For naval use, the UAS Control Station can be integrated into a ship’s normal operator consoles and combat management systems, or into ground vehicles such as armored personnel carriers or trucks. The aircraft is compatible with heavy fuel and supports multiple payload configurations.

Several navies operate or have operated the Skeldar V-200. The Royal Netherlands Navy and the Belgian Navy have selected the V-200 for use on their future Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMV), with the first vessels expected to be operational in 2024. The German Navy previously selected the V-200B for its K130 Braunschweig class corvettes in September 2018, but the project was cancelled in July 2024 after multiple delays. The Royal Canadian Navy operates the system under the designation CU-176 Gargoyle. The Spanish Navy has conducted trials with the aircraft, and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence is also listed as an operator.

UMS Skeldar offers managed services, including mentoring, expert pilots, ground crew, and avionics support, alongside financial packages. The company emphasizes the system’s versatility for defense and security applications, as well as civilian uses such as coastguard monitoring, search and rescue, and border control. The Skeldar V-200’s design allows for rapid deployment, with a takeoff preparation time of less than 15 minutes. Despite the cancellation of the German Navy contract, the system remains in service with other nations, highlighting its role in naval ISR capabilities. The company continues to market the Skeldar V-200 as a robust solution for maritime and land-based missions, leveraging its heavy fuel compatibility and modular payload options.