UMS Skeldar AG
TypePrivate
IndustryAerospace
Founded2015
Headquarters
Switzerland
ProductsAircraft and components
OwnerUMS Aero Group, Saab
Websiteumsskeldar.aero

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]

Formation

Swiss 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

Earlier 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

UMS 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

  1. ↑ "UMS Skeldar acquires Hirth Motors". shephardmedia.com.
  2. ↑ Sprenger, Sebastian (21 May 2018). "Eying bullish naval market, Swiss-Swedish drone maker buys German engine specialist". Defense News.
  3. ↑ "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
  4. ↑ Chuter, Andrew (2009-05-19). "Saab, Swiss UAV Team on Rotorcraft". Defense News. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  5. ↑ "Unmanned Systems AG changing name to 'UMS AERO Group'". UMS Skeldar. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Saab And UMS Aero Group AG Establish New Strategic Partnership For Unmanned Aerial Vehicles". Saab Group. Saab. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Skeldar V-200". www.saab.com.
  8. ↑ "UMS Skeldar integrates UMS Aero and Saab - UMS SKELDAR". Archived from the original on 12 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "QinetiQ to supply unmanned aircraft systems to Canadian Armed Forces". Naval Technology. 9 May 2019.
  10. ↑ UMS SKELDAR Announces Acquisition of Global Engine Manufacturer Hirth Engines, Hirth Engines, 2018. (retrieved 23 August 2022)
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