Design of Maritime Empennage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): A Comprehensive Study

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This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Year : 2026 | Volume : 16 | 01 | Page :
    By

    Makarand Sutar,

  • Nikita Khairnar,

  • Aniket Joshi,

  • Omkar Phulsundar,

  1. Student, Parvatibai Genba Moze college of Engineering, Wagholi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  2. Student, Parvatibai Genba Moze college of Engineering, Wagholi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  3. Student, Parvatibai Genba Moze college of Engineering, Wagholi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  4. Student, Parvatibai Genba Moze college of Engineering, Wagholi, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

This project presents a comprehensive study on the design and development of a maritime empennage unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tailored for operations in coastal and naval environments. The primary objective is to engineer an efficient, stable, and mission-adaptable UAV with an optimized empennage configuration that enhances aerodynamic performance and control in maritime conditions. The study involves a systematic design process encompassing mission requirement analysis, conceptual and preliminary design, aerodynamic modeling, structural considerations, and stability assessments. Special emphasis is placed on tail configuration, material selection for corrosion resistance, and modularity for naval deployment. Computational simulations using CFD and stability analysis tools were employed to validate aerodynamic performance. The proposed design offers significant advantages in terms of endurance, maneuverability, and reliability for maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, and communication relay missions. To enable simple transportation, shipboard storage, and quick deployment, special attention is paid to tail geometry optimization, corrosion-resistant material selection, and modular architecture. To verify aerodynamic efficiency, evaluate flow behavior, and guarantee dynamic stability in turbulent marine conditions, sophisticated computer simulations utilizing CFD tools and stability analysis software are utilized. The suggested design is ideal for maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and communication relay missions since it exhibits significant gains in endurance, agility, reliability, and mission flexibility. In order to further boost UAV capabilities in difficult maritime settings, the research ends with useful design recommendations and describes upcoming developments, such as improved autonomous navigation and hybrid propulsion integration.This report culminates in a set of design recommendations and future prospects for enhancing UAV capability in challenging maritime environments.

Keywords: Maritime Empennage, Aerial Vehicle, Aerodynamic

How to cite this article:
Makarand Sutar, Nikita Khairnar, Aniket Joshi, Omkar Phulsundar. Design of Maritime Empennage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): A Comprehensive Study. Journal of Aerospace Engineering & Technology. 2026; 16(01):-.
How to cite this URL:
Makarand Sutar, Nikita Khairnar, Aniket Joshi, Omkar Phulsundar. Design of Maritime Empennage Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): A Comprehensive Study. Journal of Aerospace Engineering & Technology. 2026; 16(01):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/joaet/article=2026/view=238992


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Ahead of Print Subscription Review Article
Volume 16
01
Received 11/11/2025
Accepted 20/11/2025
Published 21/03/2026
Publication Time 130 Days
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