UMS Skeldar AG is an aircraft manufacturer based primarily in Switzerland, and with manufacturing facilities in Sweden. It was formed in 2018 as a joint venture between majority shareholder UMS Aero Group and Saab. Its principle product is the Skeldar range of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) rotorcraft. The company also owns the Hirth company,[1] whose range of light two-stroke engines provide the power units for the rotorcraft.[2]
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Aerospace |
Founded | 2015 |
Headquarters | Switzerland |
Products | Aircraft and components |
Owner | UMS Aero Group, Saab |
Website | umsskeldar |
Formation
editSwiss UAV AG was a privately owned company based in Switzerland that designed and manufactured unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).[3]
It entered a partnership with Saab, in May 2009.[4]
In 2013, Swiss UAV was acquired by Unmanned Systems AG and the following year merged into UMS Aero Group alongside Swedish company Unmanned Systems AB.[5]
At the end of 2015 UMS Aero Group and Saab, manufacturers of the Skeldar unmanned vehicle, formed UMS Skeldar, a joint venture in which UMS Aero Group is the majority partner.[6] Besides its Swiss headquarters and manufacturing, it maintains a manufacturing facility in Sweden, as UMS Skeldar Sweden AB.[7]
Aircraft
editEarlier types have included:[8]
- F-330 Fixed-wing UAS.
- F-720 Fixed-wing UAS.
- R-350 Rotary UAS.
Current products include two rotorcraft drone systems:
Subsidiary companies
editUMS Skeldar acquired the long-established Hirth German light piston engine manufacturer in 2018.[9] Hirth provide the heavy-fuel (jet fuel) engines used in the rotorcraft.[10]
References
edit- ^ "UMS Skeldar acquires Hirth Motors". shephardmedia.com.
- ^ Sprenger, Sebastian (21 May 2018). "Eying bullish naval market, Swiss-Swedish drone maker buys German engine specialist". Defense News.
- ^ "Swiss UAV" (official site). Archived from the original on 2011-03-16. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
has been active in the development, production and sale of vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicles for over four years
- ^ Chuter, Andrew (2009-05-19). "Saab, Swiss UAV Team on Rotorcraft". Defense News. Retrieved 2009-05-20.[dead link ]
- ^ "Unmanned Systems AG changing name to 'UMS AERO Group'". UMS Skeldar. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ "Saab And UMS Aero Group AG Establish New Strategic Partnership For Unmanned Aerial Vehicles". Saab Group. Saab. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ "Skeldar V-200". www.saab.com.
- ^ "UMS Skeldar integrates UMS Aero and Saab - UMS SKELDAR". Archived from the original on 12 September 2017.
- ^ "QinetiQ to supply unmanned aircraft systems to Canadian Armed Forces". Naval Technology. 9 May 2019.
- ^ UMS SKELDAR Announces Acquisition of Global Engine Manufacturer Hirth Engines, Hirth Engines, 2018. (retrieved 23 August 2022)