German Navy begins shipborne trials of UMS Skeldar’s V-200 UAV aboard K130 corvette


The German Navy has just started at-sea tests of the SKELDAR V200 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aboard the K130-class corvette FGS Braunschweig of the Deutsche Marine.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link


German Navy begins shipborne trials of UMS Skeldars V 200 UAV Aboard K130 Corvette 925 001Pictures shared on social media by the Commander of the German Naval Aviation show two Sea Falcon (the German Navy designation for the V-200) being lifted aboard the corvette, in Kiel. (Picture source: @CdrDeuNavalAir/Twitter account)


As announced by Thorsten Bobzin, the commander of the German naval air command, two Sea Falcon systems – as the heavy fuel UAV will be referred to in German Navy service – were lifted onto the deck of FGS Braunschweig for static tests. The static tests will be continued by flight trials.

The goal of the procurement contract is to supply a new, unmanned, airborne reconnaissance system for the German Navy specified by the Federal military procurement agency Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw).

A total of two V-200s have been ordered to serve as sensor carriers. They have a maximum takeoff weight of 234 kilograms, with a payload of 50 kilograms, and an endurance of up to five hours.

For the record, the same VTOL UAV was selected last month as part of the naval mine countermeasures capability replacement which will supply twelve mine hunters equipped with drone systems (Toolbox) to the Belgian and Royal Netherlands navies.


Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Pictures shared on social media by the Commander of the German Naval Aviation show two Sea Falcon (the German Navy designation for the V-200) being lifted aboard the corvette, in Kiel. (Picture source: @CdrDeuNavalAir/Twitter account)