UMEX 2026 – Schiebel unveils Camcopter S-301 VTOL UAV

Austrian company Schiebel unveiled its Camcopter S-301 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). While all previous promotional posters depicted the vehicle with onboard pods for deployable sonobuoys, in Abu Dhabi the S-301 mockup was displayed with two side-mounted missile pods from Thales

EDR On-Line has already reported on the Camcopter S-300, which is a larger version of the Camcopter S-100 VTOL UAV, the latter being well-known in the international market. As Schiebel reported to EDR On-Line, the S-301 delivers intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR), supports force protection, and can deliver a wide range of mission-critical effectors, with unmatched endurance and payload capacity. Whether deployed by land forces, special operation units, or naval forces, the S-301 provides persistent, reliable overwatch, situation dominance, and operational reach in the most challenging conditions.

With an endurance of up to 24 hours and maximum gross payload capacity of 340 kg, the S-301 supports a broad range of military operations, from ISTAR to tactical support and secondary roles.

The platform can be equipped with manned equivalent high-resolution EO/IR sensors, the latest maritime radars, electronic warfare (EW) systems sonar buoys and other mission-specific payloads, and significantly is also designed to carry and deploy multiple precision-guided or loitering munitions.

The S-301 proven heavy-fuel engine, optimized for military logistics and naval operations, ensures reliability and performance throughout its flight envelope, whether from confined area and land based operating sites to single spot ships. The S-301 also supports underslung cargo carrying, offering additional flexibility for ship to ship support or last mile resupply tasks. According to Schiebel representatives, designed as part of a scalable unmanned aviation system (UAS) family the S-301 is complemented by the smaller Camcopter S-101 for tactical and short-range missions.

Photos by N. Novichkov