Air system · VTOL UAV

SKELDAR V-200

Maritime ISR / Ship-Based Operations

Also known as: SKELDAR / V-200 / Saab Leonardo VTOL UAV

SKELDAR V-200 military drone profile image
SKELDAR V-200 — Maritime ISR / Ship-Based Operations

SKELDAR V-200 overview

The SKELDAR V-200 is a ship-launched rotary-wing vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle developed by UMS Skeldar, a joint venture between Swedish defense company Saab and Italian firm Leonardo. Entering service around 2016, the V-200 features a 4.0-meter length airframe with a 4.6-meter rotor diameter, weighing 235 kilograms and capable of carrying 40 kilograms of payload for up to 5 hours at ranges of 200 kilometers. The platform is specifically designed for maritime ISR operations, with the ability to launch from and recover to frigate and corvette-class warship flight decks without requiring extensive modifications to existing shipboard infrastructure.

The SKELDAR V-200's heavy fuel engine, capable of running on NATO-standard JP-5 and JP-8 jet fuels, provides a critical logistical advantage for naval operations where gasoline-powered alternatives would present safety and supply chain challenges aboard warships. The system has been selected by the German Navy for maritime surveillance operations, evaluated by the Royal Canadian Navy for shipborne ISR, and acquired by Indonesia for maritime patrol missions across its vast archipelagic waters. The platform carries a stabilized multi-sensor turret with electro-optical, infrared, and optional radar payloads, providing comprehensive maritime domain awareness for surface vessel detection, search and rescue, and anti-submarine warfare support. The SKELDAR V-200 represents a growing class of tactical VTOL UAVs purpose-built for naval service, filling the capability gap between shipborne helicopters and fixed-wing maritime patrol aircraft.

Armament

None (ISR only)

Development and operational timeline

  1. Saab and AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) establish UMS Skeldar joint venture
  2. SKELDAR V-200 achieves operational capability for maritime operations
  3. German Navy selects SKELDAR V-200 for shipborne ISR trials
  4. Indonesia acquires SKELDAR V-200 for archipelagic maritime patrol
  5. UMS Skeldar demonstrates V-200 heavy fuel endurance in NATO naval exercise