Military Drone Engines

Military drone engines are designed by manufacturers for optimal performance in harsh environments. Engineered to deliver high thrust-to-weight ratios and extended endurance, UAV engines for military applications maximize fuel efficiency and operational range while minimizing heat signatures and maintenance
Overview Military Drone Engines
By Mike Ball Last updated: August 8th, 2024

Many military drones use engines in order to overcome the inherent limitations of batteries, particularly with regards to payload capacity, flight ranges and mission endurances.

While engines and fuel provide a greater power-to-weight ratio than batteries, they also require a greater carrying capacity. Military drones that utilize engines thus tend to be larger fixed-wing and multirotor platforms, as well as helicopter UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).

Diesel & Heavy-Fuel Military Engines

SP-275 TS CR 2-Stroke Engine for Military Target Drones

SP-275 TS CR 2-Stroke Engine for Military Target Drones

Diesel and heavy fuels are more common for military drones, unlike the civilian sector where many UAV engines run on gasoline. This is largely due to the desire of armed forces to simplify supply and logistics efforts as much as possible by utilizing a single fuel for all vehicles and equipment.

Propulsion Technology

Military drone engines may utilize a number of different propulsion technologies. Internal combustion engine types include piston-driven and rotary Wankel engines. While piston-driven engines are simpler and easier to maintain, Wankel rotary engines are quieter and produce fewer vibrations, giving them an advantage in applications such as ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) that utilize sensitive payloads and sensors.

DA70 70cc EFI UAV Engine for Military Applications by Innoflight Technology

DA70 70cc EFI UAV Engine for Military Applications by Innoflight Technology

Military UAVs may also utilize turbine engines, which ignite a mixture of air and fuel and use the resulting stream of gas to propel the aircraft. These engines deliver an excellent power-to-weight ratio, allowing drones to carry greater payloads, fly further, and stay in the air longer. They also provide greater responsiveness and maneuverability, as well as better performance at high altitudes. However, they are large and noisy, and their complex designs require them to undergo more complicated maintenance.

Ruggedization of Military Drone Engines

Due to the demanding conditions found in battlefield environments, military drones engines may have to be ruggedized against a wide range of environmental stressors. These include high and low temperatures, sand and dust, moisture and humidity, electromagnetic interference (EMI), salt spray, and ice. They may also require ballistic protection in order to withstand gunfire and shrapnel.

Products (30)

SP-28 CR Two Stroke Engine

Single-Cylinder UAV engine

Single-Cylinder UAV engine
...ngest standing engine in our lineup and well known by industry veterans for its robustness and...
SP-110 TS ROS Two Stroke Engine

Two-Cylinder UAV engine

Two-Cylinder UAV engine
... dual cylinder engines in Sky Power portfolio, this engine system offers power density and...
SP-110 FI TS ROS Two Stroke Engine

Two-Cylinder UAV engine

Two-Cylinder UAV engine
... dual cylinder engines in Sky Power portfolio, this engine system offers power density and...
Two-Cylinder UAV engine
... dual cylinder engines in Sky Power portfolio, this engine system offers power density and...
SP-170 TS ROS Two-Stroke Engine

Dual Cylinder UAV Engine

Dual Cylinder UAV Engine
... is a 2-stroke engine with twin spark and rear output shaft suitable for a variety of UAV and UAS...
SP-170 FI TS ROS Two-Stroke Engine

Dual Cylinder UAV Engine

Dual Cylinder UAV Engine
...ected 2-stroke engine with twin spark and rear output shaft, suitable for a variety of UAV and UAS...
Dual Cylinder UAV Engine
... is a 2-stroke engine with twin spark and rear output shaft suitable for a variety of UAV and UAS...
SP-210 TS ROS 2-Stroke Engine

Dual Cylinder UAV Engine

Dual Cylinder UAV Engine
... is a 2-stroke engine with twin spark and rear output shaft suitable for a variety of UAV and UAS...
Dual Cylinder UAV Engine
... is a 2-stroke engine with twin spark and rear output shaft suitable for a variety of UAV and UAS...
SP-210 FI TS ROS 2-Stroke Engine

Dual Cylinder UAV Engine

Dual Cylinder UAV Engine
...ted two-stroke engine with twin spark and rear output shaft suitable for a variety of UAV and UAS...
SP-210 HF FI TS ROS 2-Stroke Engine

Dual Cylinder Heavy Fuel UAV Engine

Dual Cylinder Heavy Fuel UAV Engine
... fuel injected engine for heavy fuel, with twin spark and Starter Generator, suitable for a variety...
SP-275 TS ROS 2-Stroke Engine

Two Cylinder UAV Engine

Two Cylinder UAV Engine
...S, due to this engines target market system. With the starter generator mounted on the ROS, the...
Two Cylinder UAV Engine
...S, due to this engines target market system. With the starter generator mounted on the ROS, the...
SP-275 FI TS ROS 2-Stroke Engine

Two Cylinder UAV Engine

Two Cylinder UAV Engine
...S, due to this engines target market system. With the starter generator mounted on the ROS, the...
SP-275 TS CR 03 2-Stroke Engine with Rear Carburettor

Two Cylinder Engine for Target Drones

Two Cylinder Engine for Target Drones
... is a 2-stroke engine with twin spark, decompression valves and rear carburettor. It has been...
SP-180 SRE Hybrid UAV Wankel Engine

Hybrid Wankel Rotary Engine for UAV

Hybrid Wankel Rotary Engine for UAV
... single rotary engine with 180 ccm combustion chamber and a directly attached starter generator.... ... with multiple engine systems flying in all environmental conditions globally. The SP-180 has a...
SP-180 SRE Hybrid Demonstrator Engine for UAV

Demonstrator Hybrid Wankel Rotary Engine for UAV

Demonstrator Hybrid Wankel Rotary Engine for UAV
...strator hybrid engine can show you all the functionalities in a certain power range (limited by...
SP-275 TS CR 2-Stroke Engine with Rear Carburettor

Two Cylinder Engine for Target Drones

Two Cylinder Engine for Target Drones
... is a 2-stroke engine with twin spark, decompression valves and rear carburettor. It has been...
SP-180 HF SRE Hybrid UAV Wankel Engine

Heavy Fuel Hybrid Wankel Rotary Engine for UAV

Heavy Fuel Hybrid Wankel Rotary Engine for UAV
... single rotary engine with 180 ccm combustion chamber and a directly attached starter generator.... ......or. Predictable maintenance minimizes the engine down time, meaning greater operational capacity....
SP-170 HF FI TS ROS Heavy Fuel UAV Engine

Dual Cylinder Heavy Fuel Engine for UAVs

Dual Cylinder Heavy Fuel Engine for UAVs
...ected 2-stroke engine with twin spark and rear output shaft and starter generator, suitable for a...
Saito 120

120cc four-stroke UAV engine with highly efficient fuel consumption

120cc four-stroke UAV engine with highly efficient fuel consumption
...aito 120cc UAV engine is based on the proven and reliable Saito four-stroke platform. Created with...
DA35

Compact 35cc single-cylinder 2-stroke UAV engine

Compact 35cc single-cylinder 2-stroke UAV engine
...ect's DA35 UAV engine is based on Desert Aircraft's proven and reliable two-stroke 35cc platform....
DA70

70cc EFI UAV engine for civilian & military applications

70cc EFI UAV engine for civilian & military applications
...ect's DA70 UAV engine is based on Desert Aircraft's proven and reliable two-stroke 70cc platform....
DA150

150cc twin-cylinder 2-stroke EFI engine for commercial & DoD UAVs

150cc twin-cylinder 2-stroke EFI engine for commercial & DoD UAVs
...ct's DA150 UAV engine is based on Desert Aircraft's proven and reliable two-stroke 150cc platform....
DA215

High-performance 215cc twin-cylinder 2-stroke UAV engine

High-performance 215cc twin-cylinder 2-stroke UAV engine
...ct's DA215 UAV engine is based on Desert Aircraft's proven and reliable two-stroke 215cc platform....
RCV DF70 Twin Cylinder UAV Engine

70 cc Multi-Fuel 4-Stroke Engine

70 cc Multi-Fuel 4-Stroke Engine
...n-cylinder UAV engine designed to military specifications for the aerospace market. Suitable for...
RCV DF35 Single Cylinder UAV Engine

35 cc Multi-Fuel 4-Stroke Engine

35 cc Multi-Fuel 4-Stroke Engine
...sting 2-stroke engines, providing upgrades in reliability, quality and multi-fuel operation. The...
50cc Heavy Fuel Engine

3.7 hp two-stroke single-cylinder engine for tactical UAVs

3.7 hp two-stroke single-cylinder engine for tactical UAVs
...0cc Heavy Fuel Engine utilizes an air-cooled two-stroke single-cylinder design with a low vibration...
75cc Heavy Fuel Engine

5.2 hp two-stroke single-cylinder engine for tactical UAVs

5.2 hp two-stroke single-cylinder engine for tactical UAVs
...5cc Heavy Fuel Engine utilizes an air-cooled two-stroke single-cylinder design with a low vibration...
150cc Heavy Fuel Engine

11.5 hp two-stroke twin-cylinder engine for tactical UAVs

11.5 hp two-stroke twin-cylinder engine for tactical UAVs
...0cc Heavy Fuel Engine utilizes a horizontally-opposed twin-cylinder two-stroke boxer design with a...

Related Articles

ISO Accreditation Achieved for RCV Engines

RCV Engines Ltd has achieved its ISO 9001 (2015), providing its customers with the assurance that it will continue to produce consistent, high-quality services and technology

Sep 13, 2024
Compact APU Test & Evaluation System Released

Sky Power International is offering the compact SP-180 SRE APU demonstrator mobile APU test and evaluation system, designed to be space-saving, lightweight, and smooth-running

Sep 05, 2024
MQ-9B SkyGuardian UAS Flown with New Turboprop Engine

The Pratt & Whitney PT6 E-Series delivers a 33 percent increase in power over MQ-9B’s current engine

Jul 25, 2024
Heavy Fuel Engines for Group 2 & 3 Tactical UAS

Orbital's engines have been selected by leading defense primes including Insitu and Textron

Jun 10, 2024
Durability Test Completed for New Gray Eagle Heavy Fuel Engine

The 200-horsepower heavy fuel engine underwent a simulated full 2500-hour engine life with the highest possible flight loads

Jun 05, 2024
Flight Operations Begin for Northwest UAV Engine

Northwest UAV’s heavy-fuel NW-230 engine has reached a Technical Readiness Level of 7 for flying in an operational environment under end-user mission control

Oct 10, 2023
Sky Power UAV Engine Selected for the MADDOS VTOL 600h

MADDOS VTOL 600h equipped with SP-210 TS ROS as hybrid solution from Sky Power International

Oct 09, 2023
Hermeus Receives First Pratt & Whitney F100 Engine for Hypersonic UAS

The F100 will propel the Darkhorse to speeds of around Mach 2.8, where a ramjet will take over at the transition point, propelling Darkhorse to its target velocity of Mach 5

Jun 12, 2023
Heavy-Fuel UAV Engine Receives US State Department Export Approval

Purpose-built, Northwest UAV’s NW-230 engine offers endurance and reliability to Group III UAVs for commercial and military operations

Jun 02, 2023
INF Inject

Advanced EFI Drone Propulsion Solutions for Commercial & Industrial UAV Platforms

Orbital UAV

Innovative Heavy Fuel Engines for UAVs

HFE International LLC

EFI, Mil-Spec & Rotary UAV Engines / UAV Servos Actuators / Fuel System Parts

UAVOS Inc.

VTOL and Fixed Wing UAVs, Autopilots, Engines, GCS, Components and Payloads for UAS

Sky Power International

Heavy Fuel, Gasoline Engines & Wankel Rotary UAV Engines

RCV Engines

Heavy Fuel and Gasoline 4-Stroke UAV Engines

Platinum Partners
Gold Partners
Silver Partners
Related Categories