Austria is strengthening its indigenous unmanned aviation portfolio with the introduction of Schiebel’s Camcopter S-301, a new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) helicopter drone designed to operate seamlessly across land and maritime environments. Revealed at UMEX 2026, the S-301 represents the latest evolution of Schiebel’s rotary-wing unmanned systems, marking a shift toward armed and multi-role military applications.
The Camcopter S-301 has a maximum takeoff weight of 485 kilograms and is powered by a military-grade engine compatible with standard NATO fuels, simplifying logistics for deployed forces. The platform can carry payloads up to 110 kilograms, remain airborne for up to 10 hours, and operate at altitudes reaching 5,500 meters, making it well suited for extended surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions. Its compact footprint allows launch and recovery from ships or vehicles without specialized infrastructure, enabling rapid deployment in austere or contested regions.
At UMEX 2026, Schiebel showcased the S-301 in a weaponized configuration, fitted with reinforced wing stubs carrying Thales FZ602 rocket pods. Each pod was loaded with seven FZ275 laser-guided rockets, demonstrating the drone’s emerging precision-strike capability. Beyond kinetic roles, the modular airframe allows quick reconfiguration for ISR, maritime patrol, or electronic warfare missions, minimizing downtime between taskings.
The platform supports fully autonomous operations, including automatic takeoff and landing, dynamic mission updates, and autonomous return-to-base in emergency situations. Redundant navigation systems and built-in safety mechanisms further enhance survivability, enabling safe recovery even in the event of engine or environmental failures.
