The purpose of this proposal is to develop two different types of unmanned aerial vehicle systems (UASs). In the first UAS, the use of appropriate sensors and other recording instruments and their integrated processing system will be explored, with the aim of reviewing, recording and processing data. The end goal will be to identify various unknown "targets" floating in maritime areas, in order to avoid and prevent piracy on merchant ships. This system will be the "long-arm" of the private guards or/even the crews of the merchant ships. Ground control systems will ensure its remote operation and management at the operational level of the missions. Monitoring will rely on a combination of high spatial precision and thermal spectrum sensors. This information will be provided in real-time and in accordance with the operators’ requirements. The second UAS will be small, flexible and easy to use by non-specialists (merchant ship crew etc). It will be used in cases of piracy as a "rescue beacon". It will be deployed by its operators; in case the ship is occupied or is being occupied by pirates.