Skyblade IV
ST Aerospace · Singapore · Updated
Skyblade IV is a close-range tactical unmanned aerial vehicle built by ST Aerospace (now part of ST Engineering) of Singapore, unveiled at Asian Aerospace in 2006. It is catapult-launched and recovered by parachute or catch net, built around a torpedo-like fuselage with a straight, high-mounted wing, upturned wingtips and cruciform tailfins.
Overview
Skyblade IV is the larger of ST Aerospace's Skyblade family, built for surveillance, reconnaissance, fire support and battle damage assessment at longer range and endurance than the smaller Skyblade III. Compared with the Skyblade III, the Skyblade IV weighs around 14 times more, flies 6 to 12 times longer, and reaches roughly 50 times the range — 100 km against the Skyblade III's 8 km — reflecting a shift from short-range unit-level reconnaissance to extended tactical missions. The Skyblade III has been fielded by six Singapore Armed Forces army units since 2010 for scout and field-intelligence work; Wikipedia does not record a named operator specifically for the larger Skyblade IV.
Design and capabilities
Skyblade IV is 2.4 m long with a 3.7 m wingspan and a maximum take-off weight of 70 kg, including a payload of up to 12 kg. A piston engine driving a pusher propeller gives the aircraft an endurance of 6 to 12 hours and an operating speed of roughly 50 to 80 knots (about 93–148 km/h). Quoted range is 100 km, and maximum altitude is 15,000 ft (4,572 m). The aircraft is fully autonomous in flight, launches from a catapult, and is recovered by parachute or catch net rather than a runway landing. Its standard sensor is an electro-optical/infrared payload, and ST Aerospace has worked on a miniaturised synthetic-aperture radar for the airframe.
Frequently asked questions
How far can the Skyblade IV fly?
Its quoted range is 100 km, roughly 50 times the shorter-range Skyblade III's 8 km.
How long can the Skyblade IV stay airborne?
Wikipedia records an endurance of 6 to 12 hours, depending on payload.
How is the Skyblade IV launched and recovered?
It is catapult-launched and recovered by parachute or a catch net, rather than taking off and landing on a runway.
What missions does the Skyblade IV perform?
ST Aerospace markets it for surveillance, reconnaissance, fire support and battle damage assessment.
How is the Skyblade IV different from the Skyblade III?
The Skyblade IV is substantially larger and longer-ranged: about 14 times the weight, 6 to 12 times the endurance, and roughly 50 times the range of the Skyblade III.