UMS Skeldar
UMS Skeldar is a Swedish-Swiss aerospace company that develops and manufactures rotary-wing unmanned aircraft systems for defense, security, and other specialized missions.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
UMS Skeldar is an aerospace company focused on unmanned aircraft systems, particularly vertical-takeoff-and-landing rotorcraft designed for surveillance, reconnaissance, and other missions where persistent airborne sensing is required. The company is associated with the Skeldar family of unmanned systems and is based in Linköping, Sweden, where it maintains headquarters and manufacturing operations. It also has Swiss origins and corporate ties through UMS Aero Group. The company emerged from a longer collaboration between Saab and the Swiss unmanned-aircraft business Swiss UAV. Swiss UAV entered a partnership with Saab in 2009 and was acquired by Unmanned Systems AG in 2013. In 2014, it was combined with Swedish Unmanned Systems AB within UMS Aero Group. UMS Aero Group and Saab subsequently established the UMS Skeldar joint venture, with UMS Aero Group as the majority partner. The business was formed as UMS Skeldar in the late 2010s and is described as a 2018 company in reference material. UMS Skeldar’s principal business is the design, integration, manufacture, and support of unmanned rotorcraft. Its main product family includes the Skeldar V-200 and Skeldar V-150 systems. These aircraft are intended to provide aerial intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and observation capabilities while operating from locations where conventional runways may be unavailable or impractical. Rotary-wing unmanned aircraft can be particularly useful for maritime and expeditionary operations because they can take off and land vertically and can operate from ships or confined sites. The company’s product history also includes earlier fixed-wing and rotary-wing designs such as the F-330, F-720, and R-350. These earlier systems reflect the development path from smaller unmanned aircraft toward a broader portfolio of mission-specific unmanned platforms. UMS Skeldar also owns Hirth, a long-established German manufacturer of light piston engines. Hirth supplies heavy-fuel engines using jet fuel for the company’s rotorcraft, giving UMS Skeldar an in-house or affiliated source for an important propulsion component. UMS Skeldar operates in the specialized aerospace and defense-technology sector. Its competitive proposition is based on unmanned vertical-lift aircraft, integration with mission equipment, and the ability to provide remotely operated or autonomous airborne capability without requiring a traditional airfield. The company’s corporate structure combines Saab’s aerospace and defense expertise with the engineering and unmanned-systems capabilities of UMS Aero Group. Publicly available reference material identifies the company’s Swedish manufacturing presence and its Swiss corporate heritage, but does not provide enough information to establish a complete current customer list, revenue profile, leadership roster, or detailed geographic sales breakdown.
History
UMS Skeldar’s history is rooted in the development of unmanned aircraft in Switzerland and Sweden and in a strategic relationship with Saab. Swiss UAV AG was a privately owned Swiss company that designed and manufactured unmanned aerial vehicles. In May 2009, Swiss UAV entered into a partnership with Saab, linking its unmanned-aircraft engineering activities with one of Sweden’s largest aerospace and defense groups. In 2013, Swiss UAV was acquired by Unmanned Systems AG. The following year, it was merged into UMS Aero Group together with the Swedish company Unmanned Systems AB. This consolidation created a broader corporate platform for the development and production of unmanned aircraft and established the organizational foundation from which the Skeldar business would develop. At the end of 2015, UMS Aero Group and Saab formed a joint venture around the Skeldar unmanned vehicle. UMS Aero Group held the majority position, while Saab contributed its aerospace and defense capabilities. The resulting company is identified as UMS Skeldar AG and is associated with operations in both Switzerland and Sweden. Reference material describes the company as formed in 2018, reflecting the later establishment or formalization of the UMS Skeldar organization. The company’s principal focus became rotary-wing unmanned aircraft. Earlier systems associated with its development history included the F-330 and F-720 fixed-wing unmanned aircraft, as well as the R-350 rotary unmanned aircraft. The portfolio subsequently centered on the Skeldar V-200 and V-150 rotorcraft. These systems are designed around vertical takeoff and landing, allowing them to operate from ships, compact bases, and other environments without conventional runways. Their intended applications include surveillance, reconnaissance, observation, and related defense and security missions. In 2018, UMS Skeldar acquired Hirth, a long-established German manufacturer of light piston engines. Hirth became an important part of the company’s industrial structure by supplying heavy-fuel engines that use jet fuel for the Skeldar rotorcraft. The acquisition connected the unmanned-aircraft business with a specialized propulsion manufacturer and supported the company’s ability to provide integrated aircraft and engine technology. UMS Skeldar is headquartered and manufactures in Linköping, Sweden, while retaining Swiss corporate and manufacturing links through the wider UMS Aero Group structure. Its history therefore reflects cross-border consolidation in the European unmanned-aircraft industry: Swiss UAV development, Swedish aerospace participation through Saab, UMS Aero Group ownership, and German engine manufacturing through Hirth. Public reference material does not establish a full account of subsequent contracts, deployments, revenues, or current management, so those areas remain undocumented in this entry.
- 2018
UMS Skeldar is formed and acquires Hirth
[1]UMS Skeldar was established as the operating company for the Skeldar business and acquired German light-engine manufacturer Hirth, which provides heavy-fuel propulsion for the rotorcraft.
- 2015
UMS Aero Group and Saab establish the Skeldar joint venture
[1]UMS Aero Group and Saab formed a joint venture focused on the Skeldar unmanned vehicle, with UMS Aero Group as the majority partner.
- 2014
Swiss and Swedish unmanned-aircraft businesses are combined
[1]Swiss UAV was merged into UMS Aero Group alongside Swedish company Unmanned Systems AB.
- 2013
Swiss UAV is acquired by Unmanned Systems AG
[1]Unmanned Systems AG acquired Swiss UAV as part of the consolidation of unmanned-aircraft capabilities that later contributed to UMS Aero Group and UMS Skeldar.
- 2009
Swiss UAV begins partnership with Saab
[1]Swiss UAV AG entered a partnership with Saab, creating an early corporate and technical link between the Swiss unmanned-aircraft developer and the Swedish aerospace and defense group.
Products and positioning
A specialist defense and aerospace supplier focused on rotary-wing unmanned aircraft systems, vertical-lift surveillance platforms, and associated propulsion and mission-support technologies.
Rotary-wing unmanned aircraft system
UMS Skeldar V-200
The Skeldar V-200 is a vertical-takeoff-and-landing unmanned rotorcraft in UMS Skeldar’s principal product family. It is intended for defense and security missions requiring airborne surveillance, reconnaissance, observation, and persistent sensing without a conventional runway. Its rotary configuration allows operation from ships and other constrained locations. The available reference material identifies it as one of the company’s current rotorcraft systems but does not provide verified specifications, customer details, or deployment figures.
Rotary-wing unmanned aircraft system
UMS Skeldar V-150
The Skeldar V-150 is a rotary-wing unmanned aircraft system developed for specialized aerial surveillance and reconnaissance applications. As a vertical-lift platform, it is designed to operate without a conventional runway and can support missions from compact or maritime operating locations. Public reference material lists the V-150 among UMS Skeldar’s current products but does not document detailed performance specifications, launch timing, or customer programs.
Fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system
F-330
The F-330 is an earlier fixed-wing unmanned aircraft associated with the development history of the businesses that preceded and contributed to UMS Skeldar. It represents an earlier branch of the portfolio before the company’s principal focus became the Skeldar rotary-wing family. The available source does not provide verified technical specifications, production dates, or current availability.
Fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system
F-720
The F-720 was an earlier fixed-wing unmanned aircraft in the product history of the predecessor businesses associated with UMS Skeldar. It illustrates the company group’s earlier work across more than one unmanned-aircraft configuration. Available reference material does not establish detailed specifications, customer use, production status, or a precise launch date.
Rotary-wing unmanned aircraft system
R-350
The R-350 is an earlier rotary unmanned aircraft associated with the company’s predecessor product range. It predates the current V-200 and V-150 Skeldar systems and forms part of the development history leading to UMS Skeldar’s emphasis on vertical-lift unmanned aircraft. No verified public information in the supplied reference material specifies its operational role, production period, or current status beyond its historical listing.
Aircraft propulsion
Hirth heavy-fuel engines
Hirth is a German manufacturer of light piston engines acquired by UMS Skeldar in 2018. Its engines provide propulsion for the company’s rotorcraft and are described as heavy-fuel units capable of using jet fuel. The Hirth business gives UMS Skeldar an affiliated propulsion capability alongside its aircraft manufacturing and unmanned-systems activities.
Brand decisions
2018
Acquisition of HirthM&ABackground
UMS Skeldar required specialized propulsion for its unmanned rotorcraft, while Hirth was an established German producer of light piston engines.
Action taken
UMS Skeldar acquired Hirth and incorporated its heavy-fuel engine capability into the broader unmanned-aircraft business.
Aftermath
Hirth became the supplier of jet-fuel-capable power units used in the company’s rotorcraft.
2015
Creation of a Saab–UMS Aero Group unmanned-aircraft joint ventureStrategyBackground
UMS Aero Group and Saab had developed connected unmanned-aircraft capabilities through earlier cooperation and corporate consolidation. They created a joint venture focused on the Skeldar unmanned vehicle, with UMS Aero Group as the majority partner.
Action taken
The parties established the UMS Skeldar venture to develop and manufacture Skeldar unmanned aircraft systems.
Aftermath
The joint venture became the corporate basis for UMS Skeldar’s Swedish and Swiss operations and its subsequent rotary-wing product portfolio.
Recent events
UMS Skeldar launches V-150 platform[2]
Reported:
UMS Skeldar launched its enhanced V-150 vertical take-off and landing platform for tactical operations, including defense, surveillance and emergency services.
Sources3 sources
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