UMS Skeldar and JetLease move to make UAV platforms available for leasing

Following UMS Skeldar’s announcement, on the first day of DSEI, of the launch of a global UAV leasing platform together with JetLease, NAVAL FORCES sat down with David Willems, Head of Business Development for UMS Skeldar, to discuss this new approach to the UAV market: “JetLease wanted to move into the unmanned market, but needed an entry point, while we had seen that a number of government customers were very keen on trying out the products before buying them, so we joined forces together to create this leasing platform.”

Currently the leasing platform concerns UMS Skeldar’s V-200 vertical take off and landing (VTOL) Remotely Piloted Aerial System (RPAS). “We had to start with a platform that was as close to a manned platform as possible to reduce the perception of risk for financial investment,” continues Mr Willems. UMS SKELDAR will introduce the financial package, featuring dry and wet leasing, to also include optional payloads such as Sentient Vision Systems’ ViDAR, uniquely deploying five to ten cameras, providing between 180 and an optimal 360° maritime domain awareness.

“We believe that within the next twelve months or so we will be able to increase V-200 production from five per year to perhaps 30 per year, thus moving to externalise industrial production,” concludes Mr Willems.