ST Aerospace Skyblade

• 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) The Skyblade III is designed for rapid 2-man deployment to support military and civilian applications. Developed for fully autonomous flight operations, it delivers quick and accurate intelligence in real-time to tactical commanders in the field. • Skyblade IV: New tactical UAV The SkyBlade IV is a completely new close-range tactical UAV unveiled in Asian Aerospace 2006, with a takeoff weight of , including a 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. Skyblade IV can perform a variety of operational missions such as surveillance, reconnaissance, fire support and battle damage assessment. == Military use in Singapore ==

Since 2010, six army units of the Singapore Armed Forces are equipped with the Skyblade III variant for scout and field intelligence gathering. The units are: the 40th Battalion of the Singapore Armoured Regiment (40 SAR), 41 SAR, 2 Singapore Infantry Regiment (2 SIR), 3 SIR, 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade (3 SIB), and the 4th Singapore Armoured Brigade (4 SAB). ==Specifications==

Skyblade II prototype • Length: • Wing span: • Operating altitude: • Endurance (minimum) (depending on internal combustion or electric version): 1-2 hrs • Stall speed: • Maximum speed: • Operating wind conditions: • Head wind during take-off and landing: • Cross wind during take-off and landing: • Range: up to 8 km line-of-sight Skyblade III specifications • Length: 1.4 m • Wing Span: 2.6 m • Maximum Take Off Weight: 5.0 kg • Endurance: >60 mins • Operating Altitude: • Maximum Speed: 35 kts • Range: 8 km • Flight Operation: Fully autonomous from launch to mission execution to recovery Skyblade IV specifications • Length: 2.4 m • Wing Span: 3.7 m • Maximum Take Off Weight: 70 kg • Maximum Payload Weight: 12 kg • Endurance: 6 – 12 hrs • Maximum Altitude: • Operating Speed: 50 -80 kts • Range: 100 km • Launch: Catapult • Recovery: Parachute • Flight Operation: Fully autonomous ==References==