Leonardo invests in Skydweller Aero
Leonardo has announced its investment in Skydweller Aero, a US/Spanish company specialising in large-scale solar-powered UAS.
The initiative will result in the development and deployment of the Skydweller UAS, a fully electric UAS capable of carrying large payloads with unlimited range and ultra-persistent endurance.
Skydweller will combine potentially unlimited persistence and range with the flexibility of an aircraft. It will be capable of operating from existing airbases around the world, deploying thousands of miles away to areas of high need, and remaining overhead for long periods.
Applications will include land and maritime surveillance, environmental and infrastructure monitoring, industrial geo-information services, telecommunications and precision navigation. During emergencies and disaster-recovery situations, the system will rapidly deploy to provide backup communications and direct support to first responders.
The Skydweller programme will see conversion of a manned platform to an optionally-piloted vehicle (OPV) by integrating advanced autonomy algorithms and vehicle management systems. This will be followed by a second phase, culminating in the first production aircraft, designed solely for unmanned operations and hardened against a range of environmental conditions.
The first autonomous flights of the OPV is projected for 2020 and the first production model of the unmanned version of the aircraft is expected in 2021.
Leonardo will act as the prime contractor for commercial opportunities in Italy, the UK, Poland and NATO.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
![AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024]()
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
![Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards]()
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
![Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities]()
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.
