IDEX 2025 – Arquimea: after loitering munitions come C-UAS, the Spanish company unveiling its SkyBlock family, and announcing the development of a longer-range LM

Well known for its Q-SLAM loitering munition (LM), which can reach targets at 15-20 km with an endurance of 25 minutes, Arquimea unveiled at IDEX a family of C-UAS systems aimed at defeating UAVs and LMs, showing it is able to play both in attack and defence

The Arquimea anti-drone jamming solution family named SkyBlock is made of two members, with different footprint and range. Both manportable, the smaller SkyBlock-I has a mass of 3.2 kg while the bigger SkyBlock-II goes up to 8.4 kg, the former has the size of a “fat” submachine gun. 360x180x270 mm, while the second looks more like a rifle, its dimensions fully mounted being 880x180x300 mm. Both systems are produced using aluminium and ABS to ensure maximum durability while reducing mass.

They use frequency inhibition to neutralise incoming enemy UAVs and LMs and are powered by Lithium-Ion batteries. The smaller system has two removable AN/PRC-148 12 V 7.5 Ah batteries that ensure a 60 to 90 minutes operating time, depending on usage, the directive antenna emitting an RF signal with a 6W power. The SkyBlock-I is designed to inhibit seven bands; GPS L1, L2 and L5; GLONASS G1, G2 and G3; Galileo E5a, E5b, E6 and E1; WiFi 2.4; WiFi 5.2; WiFi 5.6 and finally WiFi 5.8. It can be programmed in different ways, the selected mode allowing to force the drone to a controlled landing, to return to take-off point, to remain frozen in static flight, to block the data link allowing images to be transmitted to the ground control station. The operator does not need to aim precisely against the intended target, as the directive antenna covers a 65° angle both vertically and horizontally, therefore he has just to direct the system in the generic direction and press the trigger, the SkyBlock-I being effective up to 800 metres.

The SkyBlock-II has twice the power of the smaller system, features a directive antenna with vertical polarisation, and is powered by a BB-2590 24V 10 Ah Lithium-Ion battery that ensures a 40 to 90 minutes operating time, depending on usage. Due to the higher power the system is fitted with a fan to cool the electronic power circuit. Compared to the SkyBlock-I, the II model can neutralise nine bands, the aperture angle differing from one band to the other. Starting from GNSS, when operating in the L2, L5, G2, G3, E5 and E6 bands aperture is 56° horizontal and 50° vertical, while for L1, G1 and E1 it is 36°/35°. Coming to WiFi bands, the 2.4 has a 39°/30° aperture, while the three others have the same aperture, 29°/22°. The SkyBlock-II operates also in the 900/800 band, with a 45°/40° aperture, and in the Tetra band with a 40°/35° aperture. The declared maximum effective range is 2,000 metres.

Unveiled at IDEX, the SkyBlock systems are however already in production, EDR On-Line understanding that several systems have already been delivered to Ukraine. Arquimea is ready to customise the system, should a customer require it.

Presenting defensive system did not meant that Arquimea forgot the offensive side of the story. At the Abu Dhabi exhibition the Madrid-based company exhibited the models of its Q-SLAM Multi-Launcher installed on a Spectre unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). This platform, which was unveiled at Eurosatory 2024 by the Belgian/Spanish company Duma and by EODH of Greece, is a wheeled vehicle that can be fitted with a hybrid diesel/electric or an all-electric powerpack, and is available in 6×6 or 8×8 configuration, the latter being the one considered by Arquimea. Its 600 kg payload over a gross vehicle mass of 1,300 kg (1,400 kg if no amphibious capability is required) allows to install one 5-tube launcher for the Q-SLAM-40 plus six three-tube reload packages, giving the UGV a firepower of 23 loitering munitions. The system is capable to handle up to five Q-SLAM-40 LMs at the same time, allowing therefore swarm operations. While at IDEX only the model was shown, the real prototype is ready.

The multiple launcher was also seen in model on an Ibero 4×4 platform by TSD (Technology & Security Developments); on this manned vehicle eight three-tube reloads were available on the vehicle flatbed, just behind the armoured cabin, with two rows of three-tube launchers directed backword.

EDR On-Line understood that a longer-range version of the Arquimea LM is under development. Named Q-SLAM-100, it will have a 60-80 km range and will carry a 2.5 kg warhead. According to company sources the new weapon system is at TRL 5/6, its development being made easier by the fact that around 90% of the new project will leverage the work done on the Q-SLAM-40. A mock-up and more information should be available next May at the FEINDEF exhibition in Madrid.

Photos by P. Valpolini