Richard Hjelmberg Appointed Executive Sales Director of UMS SKELDAR

Europe’s leading provider of VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), UMS SKELDAR is delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Hjelmberg as Executive Sales Director for UMS SKELDAR.

Hjelmberg joins from Saab AB where he held a number of executive positions and will now support the UMS SKELDAR strategy to roll-out global sales and after sales programmes for defence, security and civilian customers. At Paris Air Show 2019, he has been involved with media and customer briefings alongside David Willems, Head of Business Development, and will also work in tandem with Carl Foucard, Head of Sales.

A Licensed Aircraft Engineer, with 30 years’ experience with Saab in executive roles, he established a successful sales record across international aerospace markets. Hjelmberg joins UMS SKELDAR from his most recent position as Head of Marketing & Sales, Maritime Surveillance Area in Bangkok at Saab Asia Pacific.

Axel Cavalli-Björkman, Chief Executive Officer for UMS SKELDAR, says: “Richard’s appointment is a testament to our dynamic expansion across international markets and his track record. We are delighted to have him on board. Attracting someone of Richard’s calibre into the business is a great endorsement of our strategy and ambition. He brings with him exceptional knowledge and experience which will be vital as we continue our growth plans to develop VTOL UAVs for the defence, security and civilian sector.’




Hjelmberg added: “This role comes at an exciting time in developing the VTOL rotary UAV proposition. We have a tremendous opportunity to grow further and continue to support our priority markets, bringing our platforms and service delivery to match the demands and rightly high expectations of our clients. I’m excited to be on board and part of the amazing team that will take UMS SKELDAR to new heights.”

About UMS SKELDAR: UMS SKELDAR, a joint venture between Saab and UMS AERO Group, is Europe’s leading provider of Rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms including the unmatched NATO-compliant rotary SKELDAR V-200 and the ITAR-free light-tactical R-350. Incorporating the Sentient Vision Systems ViDAR (Visual identification Detection and Ranging) payload into its vertical take-off & landing (VTOL) fleet, UMS SKELDAR is engaged in a highly active research and development programme, and provides solutions to a wide variety of defence, civil security and maritime sectors globally.

The company is headquartered near Basel in Switzerland, with twin manufacturing facilities in Switzerland (Möhlin) and Sweden (Linköping) and offers a comprehensive unmanned aerial systems (UAS) solutions portfolio. The company provides a total solutions capability globally, including development, manufacture, testing, training, consultancy, maintenance, managed services and finance options (incorporating purchase/leasing and lease purchase).