UMS Skeldar
{{Short description|UAV manufacturer based in Switzerland and Sweden}}
{{Infobox company
| name = UMS Skeldar AG
| logo = Ums-skeldar.png
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| type = Private
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| foundation = 2015
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| location_country = Switzerland
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| industry = Aerospace
| products = Aircraft and components
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| owner = UMS Aero Group, Saab
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| homepage = {{URL|https://umsskeldar.aero/}}
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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,{{cite web |title=UMS Skeldar acquires Hirth Motors |url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/ums-skeldar-acquires-german-engine-manufacturer-hi/ |publisher=shephardmedia.com}} whose range of light two-stroke engines provide the power units for the rotorcraft.{{cite news |last1=Sprenger |first1=Sebastian |title=Eying bullish naval market, Swiss-Swedish drone maker buys German engine specialist |url=https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2018/05/21/eying-bullish-naval-market-swiss-swedish-drone-maker-buys-german-engine-specialist/ |work=Defense News |date=21 May 2018 |language=en}}
Formation
Swiss UAV AG was a privately owned company based in Switzerland that designed and manufactured unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).{{cite web | type = official site | title = Swiss UAV | url = http://www.swiss-uav.com/ | access-date = 2011-04-26 | quote = has been active in the development, production and sale of vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicles for over four years | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110316213226/http://www.swiss-uav.com/ | archive-date = 2011-03-16 }}
It entered a partnership with Saab, in May 2009.{{cite web| url = http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4098043&c=EUR&s=AIR| title = Saab, Swiss UAV Team on Rotorcraft| last = Chuter| first = Andrew| date = 2009-05-19| publisher = Defense News| accessdate = 2009-05-20}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
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.{{cite web|title=Unmanned Systems AG changing name to 'UMS AERO Group'|url=http://umsskeldar.aero/unmanned-systems-ag-changing-name-to-ums-group/|website=UMS Skeldar|accessdate=25 January 2018}}
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.{{cite web|title=Saab And UMS Aero Group AG Establish New Strategic Partnership For Unmanned Aerial Vehicles|url=https://saabgroup.com/Media/news-press/news/2015-12/saab-and-ums-aero-group-ag-establish-new-strategic-partnership-for-unmanned-aerial-vehicles/|website=Saab Group|publisher=Saab|accessdate=25 January 2018|date=21 December 2015}} Besides its Swiss headquarters and manufacturing, it maintains a manufacturing facility in Sweden, as UMS Skeldar Sweden AB.{{cite web |title=Skeldar V-200 |url=https://www.saab.com/products/skeldar-v-200 |publisher=www.saab.com}}
Aircraft
- F-330 Fixed-wing UAS.
- F-720 Fixed-wing UAS.
- R-350 Rotary UAS.
Current products include two rotorcraft drone systems:
Subsidiary companies
{{Main|Hirth}}
UMS Skeldar acquired the long-established Hirth German light piston engine manufacturer in 2018.{{cite web |title=QinetiQ to supply unmanned aircraft systems to Canadian Armed Forces |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/news/canadian-navy-drones-qinetiq/ |website=Naval Technology |date=9 May 2019}} Hirth provide the heavy-fuel (jet fuel) engines used in the rotorcraft.[https://hirthengines.com/ums-skeldar-announces-acquisition-of-global-engine-manufacturer-hirth-engines/ UMS SKELDAR Announces Acquisition of Global Engine Manufacturer Hirth Engines], Hirth Engines, 2018. (retrieved 23 August 2022)
References
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{{aero-company-stub}}
{{Switzerland-company-stub}}
Category:Aircraft manufacturers of Switzerland
Category:2015 establishments in Switzerland
Category:Swiss companies established in 2015
Category:Privately held companies of Switzerland
Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Switzerland