ST Aerospace Skyblade

The Skyblade is a man-portable mini-UAV developed by ST Aerospace, designed to be used by two operators for short-range battlefield or tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting.

Models

• Skyblade I: Prototype version. Jointly developed with local research house (DSO National Laboratories)
• Skyblade II: Advance Production exploration, gasoline engine. Completely in-house developed. Didn't make it to full production.
• Skyblade III: Production version, all electric systems. Jointly developed with local research house (DSO National Laboratories)
• Skyblade IV: New tactical UAV

The SkyBlade IV is completely new a close-range tactical UAV unveiled in Asian Aerospace 2006, with a takeoff weight of 50 kilograms (110 pounds), including a 12 kilogram (26 pound) payload, a torpedo-like fuselage, a straight high-mounted wing with upturned wingtips, cruciform tailfins and a pusher prop driven by a piston engine with an endurance of up to 12 hours. The UAV carries an EO-IR sensor system with STA working on a miniaturized SAR. The vehicle is catapult launched and is recovered via parachutes or catch nets.

Specifications (Skyblade II)

• Length: 1.2 m (4 ft)
• Wing span: 1.8 m (6 ft)
• Operating altitude: 458 m (1500 ft)
• Endurance (minimum) (depending on internal combustion or electric version): 1 – 2 hrs
• Stall speed: 18 kts (33 km/h)
• Maximum speed: 70 kts (130 km/h)
• Operating wind conditions: 20 kts (37 km/h)
• Head wind during take-off and landing: 15 kts (28 km/h)
• Cross wind during take-off and landing: 10 kts (18 km/h)
• Range: up to 8 km line-of-sight

References

• Skyblade III on the ST Aerospace web site
• Skyblade IV on the ST Aerospace web site
• Speech by Defence Minister on DSO joint collaboration Skyblade
• DSO joint collaboration Skyblade
• ST-DSO joint collaboration on Skyblade class UAVs