Drone manufacturer Schiebel plans Schiebel UK: expansion into the British defence sector

The Austrian drone specialist Schiebel intends to set up its own British company. The drone manufacturer cites growing market opportunities in the British defence sector and its long-term commitment to supporting the British Armed Forces and industrial partners in the United Kingdom.

One trigger was the successful cooperation with Thales UK in the “Peregrine” programme. Behind it is a Rotary Wing Uncrewed Aerial System (RWUAS) based on the proven Camcopter S-100, currently in operational service with the Royal Navy. According to a recent company press release, it has “proven its capability under demanding operational conditions” there. Peregrine thus provides a persistent capability above all for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). In view of these operational successes, Schiebel expects the programme to be expanded further.

Land and joint domain in focus

Schiebel sees considerable future potential in the British land and joint domain, for example in the Land Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP) programme. The partnership with Thales UK is regarded as the strategic key here.

The roles are divided: Thales UK acts as lead system integrator and sensor supplier and plays a central role in developing and integrating future autonomy solutions. Schiebel contributes its globally proven rotary-wing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and extensive operational experience. Together, the partners are positioning themselves for scalable, mission-ready solutions in the British land battlespace.

The drone manufacturer brings the Camcopter S-300 to the UK

The expansion into the United Kingdom also includes the planned market launch of the significantly larger Camcopter S-300. The new system builds on experience with the S-100 and offers greater range, higher payload capacity and extended multi-mission capabilities. Schiebel is targeting long-range ISR tasks in particular, as well as future autonomous and collaborative operations in land and maritime theatres.

Local production, involvement of British industry

Schiebel UK is to create the basis for manufacturing, assembling and rapidly developing capabilities in the United Kingdom. This should allow British programmes to be supported more closely and innovation cycles to be shortened; at the same time, the company wants to meet British requirements for industrial participation and sovereign capabilities.

The United Kingdom is a strategically important market for Schiebel. The operational success of Peregrine with the Royal Navy underlines the maturity and reliability of our technology. By founding Schiebel UK, we are reaffirming our long-term commitment to supporting British defence requirements with proven, adaptable and future-proof unmanned systems.— Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group