Alenia Aermacchi Sky-Y

Alenia Aeronautica

Industry	Aerospace
Headquarters	Italy
Products	Unmanned air vehicles (e.g., Sky-Y)
Parent	Leonardo-Finmeccanica (since 2016)

The Italian Alenia Aeronautica Sky-Y represents a self-funded MALE Unmanned air vehicle designed primarily for research and demonstration objectives. On 30 October 2007, it established a new European endurance benchmark in the category exceeding 1000 kg by completing an uninterrupted eight-hour flight. Since 2016, the manufacturer has been Leonardo-Finmeccanica, following the merger of Alenia Aermacchi into Finmeccanica, which was officially rebranded as Leonardo in 2017.

Design and development

Alenia unveiled the Sky-Y in June 2007 after a year-long development phase, with its maiden flight occurring at the Vidsel test range in Sweden.

Conceived as a platform to validate critical MALE UAV technologies, this aircraft incorporates an automotive-derived heavy fuel engine, an innovative autonomous takeoff and landing (ATOL) system operable both day and night, an advanced collision avoidance system, and a sophisticated data link integrating surveillance sensor information. Following initial flight tests aimed at assessing the full flight envelope and engine capabilities, efforts shifted towards enhancing data processing and fusion involving onboard systems such as the Galileo Avionica EOS-45 infrared camera, the Selex Galileo synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and satellite communications links.

Building on insights gained from the Sky-Y program, the company is progressing towards developing a larger dual-purpose MALE UAV known as the Molynx.

External links

• Official product page
• Leonardo company structures page