Aircraft & UAVs

SAMJET

Also known as
  • Samjet
  • SAMJET-L
  • SAMJET-M

SAMJET is a Bulgarian loitering munition and one-way attack UAV produced by Samel-90. Official material describes an electric, rocket-launched family with SAMJET-L camera/datalink control and SAMJET-M coordinate-attack modes, while Janes reported its HEMUS 2024 debut as Samel-90's Bulgarian-designed one-way attack UAV proposal.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Bulgaria
Built by
Samel-90
Type
Loitering munition / one-way attack UAV
Service note
Unveiled publicly in 2024
Designer
Samel-90
Designed
Publicly unveiled in 2024
Produced
Reported in production by 2025

Specifications

Role
Loitering munition / one-way attack UAV
Launch method
Rocket motor assisted takeoff
Propulsion
Electric propulsion
Wingspan
1,700 mm
Length
1,700 mm
Maximum takeoff weight
10 kg
Warhead
2 kg anti-armor warhead in the official SAMJET-L/SAMJET-M brochure; Janes reported shaped-charge options from 2 kg to 5 kg
Operational range
Up to 100 km in official brochure; Janes reported up to several hundred kilometres for the HEMUS 2024 proposal
Endurance
60 minutes in official brochure; Janes reported 60 to 120 minutes depending on conditions and manoeuvring
Maximum speed
300 km/h in official brochure
Cruise speed
100 km/h in official brochure
Control
Portable ground-control station with mission planning and up to 40 km video stream for the camera-equipped version
Reported production rate
RFE/RL reported in October 2025 that Samel-90 personnel described about 50 Samjet drones per month with capacity to triple output
Control And Mission Modes

SAMJET's public material describes a compact electric attack UAV built around rocket-assisted launch, a portable ground-control station, and two published mission-control modes rather than a single fixed guidance fit.

Reusable control station

The official brochure lists mission planning, dual monitors, hardware joystick control, a safety switch, external-monitor output, up to four hours of battery life, and up to 40 km video stream for the camera-equipped version.

Source: Samel-90 SAMJET Brochure.

Human-in-the-loop branch

SAMJET-L uses a zoom camera with tilt control so the operator can observe below the aircraft and continue controlling direction until impact.

Source: Samel-90 SAMJET Brochure.

Autonomous coordinate branch

SAMJET-M is presented as a missile-mode configuration without long-distance datalink or front camera, using target coordinates and a flight plan to reach targets by autonomous GPS guidance.

Source: Samel-90 SAMJET Brochure.

Variants

Samel-90's brochure uses SAMJET-L and SAMJET-M for two control-mode configurations of the same compact electric loitering-munition family.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
SAMJET-LCamera and datalink version

The L version uses a zoom camera with tilt control and a video link so the operator can monitor the area below and steer during the terminal attack.

Sources: Samel-90 SAMJET Brochure

SAMJET-MCoordinate-attack missile mode

The M version omits the long-distance datalink and front camera; the operator inputs target coordinates and a flight plan through the same ground-control station.

Sources: Samel-90 SAMJET Brochure

Timeline

SAMJET Key Events

  1. HEMUS 2024 unveiling reported

    Janes reported that Samel-90 unveiled SAMJET at HEMUS 2024 in Sofia as a Bulgarian one-way attack UAV proposal.

    Sources: Janes SAMJET at HEMUS 2024

  2. Factory production reported

    RFE/RL reported from Samel-90's Samokov factory that Samjet drones were under production and that factory personnel described current output and expansion capacity.

    Sources: RFE/RL Inside Bulgaria's Kamikaze Drone Factory

Production And Operator Context

Open sources support production and export-market context, but they do not identify a public operator or a named conflict where SAMJET has been used. Janes reported Samel-90's statement that the UAV was already in service abroad without naming the country or operator; RFE/RL later documented Samjet airframes in production at the Samokov factory.

Factory output

RFE/RL reported that Samel-90's drone-production head described about 50 drones per month and said the line had capacity to triple that figure.

Source: RFE/RL Inside Bulgaria's Kamikaze Drone Factory.

Unidentified foreign service

Janes reported Samel-90 saying SAMJET was already in service abroad, but the report did not identify the operator, country, conflict, or delivered quantity.

Source: Janes SAMJET at HEMUS 2024.

Media
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Sources