Steadicopter reveals Golden Eagle mothership UAV

A computer-generated rendering of the Golden Eagle mothership for UAVs, revealed by Israeli company Steadicopter on 12 May 2026. (Steadicopter)

Israeli company Steadicopter has revealed its new Golden Eagle ‘mothership' unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the carriage and release of smaller UAVs.

Disclosed on 12 May 2026, the Golden Eagle rotary-winged UAV (RUAV) is billed as being a long-range UAV carrier designed for sustained operations in contested and denied environments.

“The concept transforms the rotary unmanned platform into a long-range aerial deployment carrier capable of transporting and releasing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones and precision effectors deep into operational theaters while maintaining stand-off survivability,” Steadicopter said.

As noted in the announcement, the Golden Eagle can hover and deploy UAVs at particular coordinates. “This capability enables covert insertion behind terrain features, urban structures, or maritime obstacles with exceptional accuracy. The platform's ability to operate at very low altitudes further enhances survivability, allowing terrain-masked approaches that minimize detection during insertion phases,” Steadicopter said.

“At the same time, the Golden Eagle can transition to higher altitudes to function as a communications relay node... from deployed micro-systems back to command centers,” the company added.

According to Steadicopter, the Golden Eagle launches from naval vessels or remote land bases and conducts long-range transit outside of hostile air defence coverage. The Golden Eagle is equipped with a single 120 cc two-cylinder liquid-cooled piston engine and can carry up to 12 kg (26.5 lb) of payload. Without payload, it has a range of 90 n miles and an endurance of up to five hours.

For more, please see:Steadicopter unveils Golden Eagle Heavy Strike UAV