Coinciding with the first day of the DSEI defence exhibition in London, Austria’s Schiebel announced on 9 September 2025 the launch of armed versions of the company’s Camcopter S-100 and S-300 rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Development of these armed variants, designated the S-101 and the S-301, has been carried out by Schiebel Defence: a newly established group subsidiary based in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. This company is dedicated to ensuring that the new armed platforms are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of military forces. A particular focus for Schiebel Defence is integrating already in-service missiles and rockets well suited to tactical rotary-wing platforms that will provide a persistent and distributed lethality option against asymmetric threats, allowing engagement at stand-off ranges.
According to Schiebel, the S-101 and S-301 feature “advanced performance, military-grade systems integration, embedded AI and a robust architecture purpose-built for the most demanding defence missions across multi-domain environments”. The company further stated that “both systems are engineered to ensure resilience in contested electromagnetic environments, guaranteeing operational effectiveness even under the most challenging conditions”.
Designed as a multi-sensor platform with main, auxiliary and nose payload bays as well as side payload hardpoints, the S-100 has been flying since 2005 and is used by dozens of both military and non-military operators. The S-100 has a typical payload capacity of 50 kg (110 lb) and an endurance of around six hours.
The heavier S-300, meanwhile, first flew in February 2025. This UAV offers an endurance in excess of 24 hours with a camera and inverse synthetic aperture radar payload or typically six hours with a 250 kg payload. Its maximum payload, including fuel, is 340 kg, thus offering considerable potential for the carriage of weapons.
In January 2025 Schiebel, as part of the SEACURE consortium led by Thales, was awarded a grant agreement under the European Defence Fund’s call for unmanned anti-submarine and seabed warfare solutions for which the S-300 will serve as the dedicated UAV.
“The worldwide security landscape is shifting rapidly and we are seeing a significant increase in demand for armed unmanned platforms and systems,” Hans Georg Schiebel, chairman of the Schiebel Group, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “With the establishment of Schiebel Defence GmbH, we are positioning ourselves to respond directly to this demand. The launch of the weaponised Camcopter S-101 and S-301 platforms reflects our commitment to providing armed forces with advanced, reliable and mission-ready armed systems that meet the challenges of modern operations.”
