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]

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

Formation

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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

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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

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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

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  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.[dead link]
  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)