AMR-June-July-2013

REGIONAL
U A V D I R E C T O R Y
tems, deployed to Afghanistan as part of
Singapore’s deployment since 2010.
Hermes H-450, Elbit Systems; No. 116 Sqn
operates the UAV with 12 platforms fielded
since 2007.
Heron 1, IAI; delivered in 2012, equipped
with IAI/Tamam Multimission Optronic
Stabilized Payload, to replace Searcher 1
with 119 Sqn.
Skyblade III, ST Aerospace; Fielded with
Army in 2011, equipping units at battalion
and brigade level developed by Singapore
Armed Forces (SAF), the DSO National
Laboratories, ST Aerospace and the Defence
Science and Technology Agency.
Skyblade II, ST Aerospace; delivered to SAF
in mid 2005, 5kg range of 8km.
Skylark, Elbit Systems; Fielded by RSAF
from 2006.
ScanEagle, Insitu Pacific; Republic of
Singapore Navy successfully trialed the
ScanEagle in March 2009, the trials involving
the successful operation of the UAV
from a RSN frigate and LST. Fielded in
2012 operated in Exercise in May off RSS
Valiant corvette.
Trials and development
Blue Horizon, Singapore Technologies
Dynamics, MALE ordered in 1998 acquired
in 1999.
ST Skyblade IV, ST Aerospace, 54nm range
UAV unveiled 2006.
FanTail 5000, ST Aerospace, VTOL SUAV
30 min hover endurance 8km range ground
and naval role.
MAV-1, ST Aerospace; Low-observable
developmental UAV.
RQ-8A Fire Scout, Northrop Grumman;
Company believes it has interest from the
military.
Skyblade 360, ST Aerospace's, SUAV in
development 9kg 3 hour endurance with 6
hours with fuel cell, range 15km altitude
900m first flown May 2011.
NOTES: The Republic of Singapore Air
Force (RSAF) integrated its Heron 1 into 199
Squadron on 23 May 2012. Featuring stateof-the-art
avionics, communication systems
and detection capabilities, the Israel
Aerospace Industries drone, developed by
the Malat division, replaced the Searcher
UAV, in service since 1994. Compared to its
predecessor, the Heron 1 UAV features an
endurance of 40 hours and a range of 350
km. The advanced unmanned aircraft is
equipped with an Automatic Take Off and
Landing (ATOL) system, allowing the
desired flight route to be scheduled prior to
launch, as well as setting the return to a predesignated
recovery point. The potentials of
such vehicle are essential to the needs of
Singapore, as it provides the RSAF with an
enhanced situational awareness. Compared
to the Searcher, the Heron UAV gives the
possibility to see things in colour, as compared
to the monochrome video system of
the previous model. This allows the detection
of targets that could not have been
revealed using the Searcher.
SRI LANKA
Fielded
Searcher, IAI; Mks II and III variants equip
No 111 Air Surveillance Squadron based at
Anuradhapura with one or two systems in
service.
NOTES: No public plans for new UAVs
although in 2011 the Sri Lankan military
said they were testing an indigenously
developed UAV.
TAIWAN
Fielded
Chung Shyang II, CSIST; Initiated programme
in 2002 unveiled in 2005, entered
service with 601st and 602nd Airborne
Brigades in 2011, 32 platforms ordered.
“Zhongxiang III UAV", CSIST; Prototype
crashed and found by fishermen in June
2010, reported counter-radar role.
Trials and development
'MQ-9 Equivalent', CSIST; Concept shown
at last Aerospace and Defense technology
Exhibition.
UCAV, CSIST; Could be deployed in several
years similar to X-45/X-47B.
AI Rider, Gang Yu Corp; Indigenous sixrotor
1.5Kg design launched at Secutech, in
Taipei in April used by Taiwan’s military
and academic institutions for surveillance
and geographic surveying.
Kestrel II, CSIST; Early development nonoperational.
Cardinal, CSIST; Hand launched Mini-
UAV, 1.5 hour endurance military interest
reported.
Blue Magpie, CSIST; Hand launched Mini-
UAV, no military interest reported.
AL-4, Aeroland UAV Inc; Hand launched
UAV ordered by non-Military customer in
Taiwan.
‘Gray-faced Buzzard’, National Cheng
Kung University; Fuel-cell/lithium battery
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