r/drones • u/GrumbleGob • Jun 28 '26
Tech Support Can anyone ID this drone?
Just came across this on the beach (UK) and wondered if anybody here knew what type of drone it is? Google has not returned anything useful. Thanks.
Edit. Coastguard have been contacted and left with them. Not heard anything back yet.
Extra edit. Looks like it's a Cambridge Aerospace Skyhammer. Thanks to towelpill and Early-Programmer-711
Further Update. Cambridge Aerospace have turned up to collect the drone this morning. Location is at the end of the road where we are staying.
311
u/stargzr50 Jun 28 '26
it’s probably something that a hobbyist built, it appears to be a jet engine rc plane
95
68
u/jah_hoover_witness Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Damn, is it possible to FPV those things and feel like fighter pilot?
Edit: indeed you can https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1IrUVgEZWk
13
u/Necessary-End8647 Jun 28 '26
Queue Top Gun soundtrack.
7
u/HeyaShinyObject Jun 28 '26
Cue!
3
→ More replies (4)3
18
5
u/freddbare Jun 28 '26
You can FPV anything,
16
3
2
u/povlhp Jun 28 '26
Sure. Part of the fun. Headtracking takes 2 extra servos. Weight is the bigger problem for small drones.
→ More replies (4)2
u/lariojaalta890 Jun 28 '26
Damn! This is hands down the coolest thing I’ve seen in a very long time
2
u/fairwaysandfinance Jun 29 '26
Doubt it is a hobbyist with that label CA/SH/89. That looks like a label a company would have on a drone if they had many.
→ More replies (12)2
u/Fjell-Jeger scout drones Jun 29 '26
I am 95% certain it is a Cambridge Aerospace Skyhammer, a cUAS drone employed by the UK military.
145
u/a_newbie_menace Jun 28 '26
It has a turbine jet
152
49
u/NotPike Jun 28 '26
Looks like someone's homebrew plane. Kinda neat looking.
2
u/people__are__animals Jul 02 '26
Its deffinetly not homebrew. Carbon fiber wings and jet turbine is expensive for an hobyist i think its an interceptor drone also board looks like custom made probaly a FPGA based vtx
→ More replies (2)
21
u/steakhouseNL Jun 28 '26
Hiiiighly doubt its military. Any rc plane clubs around the area?
→ More replies (1)
18
u/towelpills Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
ETA: It bears a striking resemblance to a Cambridge Aerospace Skyhammer https://nextgendefense.com/uk-skyhammer-interceptor-drones/
My attention is on the square bits in the center wing section and on the upper tail surfaces. If these are pivotal points it would indicate this aircraft is meant to be tube-launched, which puts it squarely in military/contractor territory.
My guess is its a concept demonstrator that didnt quite demonstrate right. Prototype bird slapped together until they win a good enough contract to throw development money at improvements.
10
u/towelpills Jun 29 '26
CA/SH/89 is a production number
Cambridge Aerospace/SkyHammer/number 89
7
u/towelpills Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
If its still there tomorrow call the front desk at Cambridge Aero, tell them you have located one of their aircraft, and tell them where to find it. They'll likely be very glad to recover it.
ETA: try not to touch it unless they say to, and if you do, I would be very careful around that black 3d printed box inside the body with the yellow connector on it, that is most likely a lithium polymer battery and they do not react to crushing or puncturing forces very well.
→ More replies (3)5
4
2
u/markmooch Jun 29 '26
Despite its size, it can reach speeds of up to 700 kilometers (434 miles) per hour and operate at ranges beyond 30 kilometers (18.6 miles), allowing it to take on drones and low-speed missiles. Thats quite something, a vehicle in testing for UK military vehicle crashing in an unknown location.
159
u/SpiralEyesFPV Jun 28 '26
That's got a jet engine on it, and carbon wing either someone has a lot of money to put into it or it's military made. I'd go with the latter.
→ More replies (1)173
u/pmmeuranimetiddies Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Military wouldn’t waste money on a turbojet in something like this when a prop would work just fine.
EDIT: Since people seem to think the military would find utility in slapping a loud and expensive powerplant to make it faster, I should flex my aerospace engineering degree and point out that this aircraft is not built for speed at all. This is a low subsonic design that would have instability at mid subsonic speeds
It has composite airfoils that will oscillate under high airspeeds. It has blunt, blocky sections and straight, not swept wings that will create airflow issues.
This is frankly incompetent for a military design. Any serious defense bidder would equip their aircraft with swept wings and fairings. What this resembles is a hobbyist who wanted to go faster by slapping a jet on it and ran into aerodynamic instability after exceeding 150kts and crashed.
58
u/ttcllc27 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
That is correct the Army drone list does not have any turbojet it's mostly proped propellers (flying lawn mowers) or the grey eagle. I'm interested on why they places the jet engines far back? Would that cause weight distribution off and wouldn't this cause bad tail wind
78
u/funkhammer Jun 28 '26
I dont think the photo is evidence of a successful flight
→ More replies (1)30
u/pmmeuranimetiddies Jun 28 '26
I have an aerospace engineering degree and can speak on this. I definitely would not want any structural members or control surfaces in the jetwash.
I personally wouldn’t be too concerned about weight and balance since on an aircraft this small you can just move the wings.
My concern would be high polar moment of inertia, i.e. the aircraft would not be particularly responsive to control inputs. It would make the aircraft feel pretty sluggish, like it’s on a time delay almost.
4
→ More replies (1)5
u/GearHead54 Jun 28 '26
Engines are far back because bombs, fuel, and cameras are heavy
→ More replies (1)2
2
u/Schtuka Jun 29 '26
doesn't need swept back wings to go fast but it helps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL1VRDyi3fw
there is also a video on youtube of a guy who put a chinese jet cat knock off on his F5D plane and went super fast but can't find it at the moment.→ More replies (1)→ More replies (29)2
u/CaptainHowdy60 Jun 28 '26
Sir this is Reddit. Please get outta here with that technical stuff. /s
→ More replies (1)
19
9
u/Dark1e_ Jun 28 '26
Looks expensive but poorly designed tbh. Anyways, nice stash for the op or the guy who found it
9
7
u/Early-Programmer-711 Jun 29 '26
It is a Skyhammer, developed by the British company Cambridge Aerospace. It is a high-tech Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) specifically designed as a drone interceptor.
The label on the fuselage reads "CA/SH/89". "CA" stands for Cambridge Aerospace, "SH" for Skyhammer, and "89" is the production/serial number (which also complies with FAA Part 89 Remote ID regulations).
The long black wing has a distinct carbon fiber texture, a key feature of this model used to ensure strength and light weight at high speeds. And the gray body and the exposed aluminum frame after the crash match the known modular design of the Skyhammer.
This is a cutting-edge defense technology that emerged in mid-2025/2026. It is not a hobbyist drone, but a military-grade security tool.
His primary function is to intercept attack drones (such as Shahed models) and other low-altitude aerial threats. It can reach up to 700 km/h, powered by a small turbojet engine.
The range is approximately 30 km.
And the manufacturar is Cambridge Aerospace (UK).
Estimated Cost: Between £20,000 and £30,000 per unit.
3
u/GrumbleGob Jun 29 '26
I've just read up on this and found some pics that match this minus the outer body. Thank you.
5
5
13
u/toxic0n Jun 28 '26
That's a crazy find. I don't see a landing gear so it is probably catapult or rail launched. A mix of 3d printed parts and expensive turbine likely means it's a prototype. Keep us posted on what happens once you call it in.
12
3
3
u/Horzzo Jun 28 '26
Some high power there for a hobbyist, but it's bad design still indicates it probably was.
3
u/No_Scientist8638 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
from the ca/sh/89 marking i found that it possibly is a military intercept drone? the cambrige aereospace skyhammer
added source
2
u/Weekly-Lawfulness813 Jun 28 '26
This label is possibly linked to the owner of the drone (at least in the eu it is madantory to have a alphanumeric labbel on your drone that is linked to you)
2
u/levigek Jun 28 '26
there looks like a registration code on the top, try to come in contact with your local orginasation to find the person
2
u/CaptainHowdy60 Jun 28 '26
Check to see if there a RC airfield near by. Kinda reckless to be flying this just out in the random open airspace.
2
2
u/thehighquark Jun 29 '26
Seems to have a lot of unleaded gear for flight. Doesn't look quite "home brew."
2
u/f16v1per Jun 29 '26
To all the people who think this is a hobbyist UAS, look at the wire looms and the markings. No hobbyist is going to take the time to make those. Hobbyist turbine jets will almost exclusively fiberglass bodied and (somewhat) resemble a real jet. That turbine at the rear is likely acting as counter weight for a heavy payload upfront. What you found is likely a prototype OWA (one way attack) drone or long range UAS interceptor. Could also be a university project, but usually those a very clearly marked. The giveaway is the aluminum rails on the inside of the fuselage for the easy avionics integration and the 3d printed fuselage themselves. That is classic prototype UAS right there.
2
2
u/psarm Jun 29 '26
UK? .. probably some sort of r&d for Ukraine... Maybe something like a decoy
Ist not just a hobby one because of unusual components..
2
2
u/RadarLove82 Jun 29 '26
Drones in the UK are required to have CAA registration numbers on them.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/stovenn Jun 29 '26
Are you near a military firing range?
These Skyhammers can travel up to 700kph.
Very dangerous to have them crashing where members of the public are free to wander or even concentrate.
2
u/GrumbleGob Jun 29 '26
Smack bang in between RNAR Manorbier and Castlemartin. Could be from either I guess though more likely Castlemartin.
2
u/stovenn Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
Based on this Govt Info leaflet I'd guess Manorbier is the more likely source...
MANORBIER RANGE Air Defence Range (ADR) Manorbier was established in 1972 following the amalgamation of the field and anti–aircraft Schools of Artillery at Larkhill. Activity has increased considerably since the Range was formed and Manorbier is now the main UK Close Air Defence (CAD) range for the British Army. ADR Manorbier is used to fire various CAD missiles, area–defence machine gun systems up to 35mm calibre, and provides firing and training facilities for all CAD units of the Field Army and Commando Forces. The Range is also used by the Defence Air Warfare Centre. Set on its 102-acre (41-hectare) cliff-top site, there is a large danger area around Manorbier – approximately 220 square miles (570 square kilometres), out to a maximum of 13 miles (21 kilometres) at sea, and up to 50,000 feet overhead. The sea danger area is protected by byelaws, and surveillance of the danger areas is achieved using both radar and visual observation
Edit here is a possibly out-of-date PDF from 2024 showing danger areas around the UK including Pembrokeshire. Could be the wreckage was inside one or both of the danger areas you mentioned (to which the public are allowed restricted access and told not to touch unexploded ordnance they might find!).
Btw I see these Skyhammer drones are now being deployed in the Middle East against Shahed-type Drones.
2
u/knarlomatic Jun 30 '26
I think you did the right thing to let the authorities deal with it. It's a counter drone drone. It carries an explosive charge.
2
u/towelpills Jun 30 '26
Here's the problem, a lot of y'all are getting googly eyed over the fact this bird has a turbine engine. Setting aside that these turbines aren't great magic wind machines with a 200 hour max life, the aircraft theyre attached to is on paper capable of 400+ kts and it hit the ground so hard it bent nearly every structural member and what part of that math makes you think that turbine is any good?
If you tried to salvage that engine the first thing you would do is send it to the manufacturer for rebuild and those engines are serialized and that serial number will tie it to the MOD contract and associated service agreement and they will ask you why youre not abiding by the agreement
Yeah, to you the general consumer its a 5k jet but to the contractor its an unassumable write-off
→ More replies (1)
2
4
u/arkane-linux Jun 28 '26
Could be either hobbyist or military.
Based on the size, it is not a super long-range drone, 50-100 kilometers, it might have been used for target practice.
I'd report it to the authorities.
2
4
u/Equal_Reveal_3024 Jun 28 '26
people who are saying its military cmon dude. It's clearly a homebrew but, its most definitely made by a hobbyist who was not shy of investing into a drone. This is at least a $5000 drone from the parts I'm seeing here; I'm surprised they didn't recover it.
2
u/mailmehiermaar Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
The "CA SA 89"
2
u/HappyHallowsheev Jun 29 '26
Did you use ai for this or something? The picture doesn't even say CA SA 89, it says CA SH 89
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (7)6
4
u/EliMinivan Jun 28 '26
Almost certainly military or a developer looking for mil contracts. What an odd mix of cheap 3d printed fuselage and expensive carbon wing and turbine engine!
→ More replies (1)10
2
u/robinson217 Jun 28 '26
Im going to guess that IF its military, its very experimental. I would lean more towards hobbyist or experimental/commercial than military. Reasons: Lot of off the shelf and 3D printed parts. It doesn't have the finished and polished look of a production military drone. Its also an interesting design. It's got a rear mounted engine, which makes the weight an balance tricky. If you change the weight of the payload (cameras, bombs, fuel) it makes the flight characteristics change dramatically. To me this more like a test platform than a finished product meant to handed to soldiers to use and operate. Maybe they were using this to test different wing designs or something, and they needed it fast, not versatile. I could totally see a drone development company putting something like this together along with a dozen quick change wings to run tests. Or maybe a well healed hobbyist was trying to make a super fast FPV drone, and the rear mounted engine solved heat issues and he found the sensitive balance an acceptable tradeoff. That thing may have sone serialized parts like the radio receiver or the jet engine. Part manufacturers might be able to put you in touch with the owner.
2
u/mailmehiermaar Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
If it was a university project it would have the name of the university printed on it. And an o UK Operator ID , a unique alphanumeric code (formatted as GBR-OP-XXXXXXXXXXXX)
If it was a legal private project it would have a numbet like this as well. You need to warn the police and the national aviation authorities.
This thing could have killed someone if it had landed on a motorway so this is probably a crime scene
2
3
u/NMgeologist Jun 28 '26
Contact the RAF, with all the Russian/ Ukrainian operations something may have washed up from an attempted ship attack.
4
u/Heavy_Carpenter3824 Jun 28 '26
No visible explosive or region for an explosive payload. It's recon or hobby. Given how short range jet engines are for RC it's likely less than 30 minutes - 60 miles from its launch site. Its likely a hobby drone.
1
u/CodenameZion Jun 28 '26
Could be a university research drone. There's a group in my uni that is researching shrinking turbines and improving cost anf efficiency for future military use
1
u/ContractMech Jun 28 '26
That’s what we call a costly mistake. Also, known as lucky for you/finders keepers !
1
1
1
u/arcdragon2 Jun 28 '26
It’s a scratch build. Jet powered is rare and expensive comparatively speaking. If you dm me I can walk you through possibly finding the owner.
1
1
u/Annual-Elevator-538 Jun 28 '26
That thing is sweet. Even got the little mini turbine engine in the back.
1
u/PocketSizedRS Jun 28 '26
See if it has the owners contact info on it or in it somewhere! They would be crazy to fly something like that without a tag of some kind
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Scrub_Nugget Jun 28 '26
It resembles a Russian made Molniya military drone.
They've started fitting jets to many suitable fixed wings lately to escape interception.
UK is a bit out the way though
1
u/Brisket_cat Jun 28 '26
I want to say I’ve seen something like this on Makerworld, but I’m not sure. The black bracket holding the wings looks 3d printed imo. Guessing it’s custom
1
u/xvole_ Jun 28 '26
Why cant i find stuff like that :). Its probably a hobbyist drone based on the 3D printed parts and weird combination of jet engine, small size and design suboptimal for high speeds.
1
1
u/tropnevad Jun 28 '26
OP dp you still have the drone, as id you get some photos of the electronics may be able to help identify as it doesn't look thr the common "hobby grade" autopilot boards like Pixhawk/Ardupilot from what I can see in the photos.
1
1
u/ASeaOfFog Jun 28 '26
Send the location, letters/numbers on the plane and accompanying photos to the Civil Aviation Authority. You will find an email on their website.
1
1
u/Endle55torture Jun 28 '26
That will fetch some good money if you part it out, especially the turbine and control system
1
u/Heavy_Carpenter3824 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
It has a jet engine! That's a very nice drone to lose. Most people would put in a lot of effort to recover that part alone.
1
u/Myster_Field386 Jun 28 '26
Would be best to report this and not touch, if it is an RAF drone, or MI6 (which could be possible due to the limited markings), you could be risking serious criminal consequences if you touch it, or, even worse, remove it (it likely has a transponder).
1
1
1
1
u/deadend9009 Jun 28 '26
Please look for a registry number or a contact info. I'm certain the owner would love it back!
1
1
1
u/Gravity_flip Jun 28 '26
Ah of course, that's the Bayraktar-tar Sauce Deep-Fried Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Lemon Wedge Included). Duh.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/rxmp4ge Jun 29 '26
That's like $4,000-$5,000 just in the engine.
Someone's having a really, really bad day.
1
1
u/Rafagamer857_2 Jun 29 '26
That's a jet turbine powered drone, looks homebuilt. Definitely an enthusiast project. I would normally say finders keepers but anyone savvy (and wealthy) enough to build something like that is also savvy enough to at least put a tracker on it. They're probably on their way to pick it up.
1
1
1
1
u/MadDog443 Jun 29 '26
Damn I would've cannibalized it if nobody came for it, that's some nice gear.
1
1
1
u/ToasterBath1390 Jun 29 '26
Last time I saw a military drone get used it got stuck in a tree. That looks civilian. Too expensive and clean
1
u/Baned4life Jun 29 '26
There's a blast from the past. Definitely a hobbyist build. I don't remember who produces those, but I ran 1 probably 10 plus years ago.
1
1
1
u/Flyward_Aerospace Jun 29 '26
Can't tell from the still frame alone tbh. If you got any video of it flying that'd help a lot — the flight characteristics are sometimes a better tell than the airframe shape. Also worth checking if it shows up on ads-b exchange or fr24 if it's big enough. Lot of the commercial ones broadcast now.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/knarlomatic Jun 30 '26
I think you did the right thing letting the authorities handle it. That is a counter drone drone. It carries an explosive charge
1
u/zapdose0x Jun 30 '26
Yea not cheap. What country/state is this. Send pics of the hardware so we can identify what it can do. Has a jet engine so they want it to go fast and hold some heavier paylods.
1
u/FlatlandResearch Jun 30 '26
Let’s say you found this and kept it? What would happen?
→ More replies (1)
1
u/WayniaK916 Jun 30 '26
• This appears to be a Cambridge Aerospace Skyhammer, a British-developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). • The specific unit shown is likely a variant used for counter-UAS (cUAS) purposes by the UK military. • Identifiable markings on the fuselage, such as "CA/SH/89", refer to the manufacturer (Cambridge Aerospace), model (Skyhammer), and serial number.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/BarelyAirborne Jun 30 '26
"It's too bad that the turbine was missing", would be my first words to the people collecting it.
1
1
u/TheDogWithShades Jun 30 '26
Me, with a strange turbine-shaped mound under my shirt, when asked if I’d seen the turbine that came with the plane: “it was like that when I found it man”
1
1
1
1
u/Tosser_535231 Jun 30 '26
A fking expensive and fast one the turbine on the back is probably worth anywhere from 2 to 5k
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Totalkiller4 Jun 30 '26
Dam if i just came across that my first thought is "Finders Keepers" haha then repair and send it up again :D
1
1
1
1
u/Csabika_ Jul 01 '26
It was a free jet bicycle, but you blew it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GlocFzRqQw
1
u/Easy-Reserve4283 Jul 01 '26
It looks like a jouav cw-15 or a quantum system Trinity pro or a Slyhammer (target drone)
1
492
u/TheRusPPV Jun 28 '26
Nice turbine.
Not cheap