Army turns to combat-tested Ukrainian drone system in $10.6 million deal

The Army has awarded a Ukrainian defense manufacturer’s U.S. subsidiary a $10.6 million contract involving its Raybird reconnaissance drone system. A technician adjusts the camera payload on a Raybird drone before launch. The U.S. Army awarded a $10.64 million contract to Skyeton Inc., the American arm of Ukrainian drone maker Skyeton, for Raybird reconnaissance drones and related services, the Defense Department said Sept. 18. (Courtesy of Skyeton) The Army has awarded a Ukrainian defense manufacturer’s U.S. subsidiary a $10.6 million contract involving its Raybird reconnaissance drone system, which has been used extensively on the battlefield in Ukraine. The Defense Department announced Friday that Skyeton Inc. received the contract for Raybird unmanned aircraft system hardware and services.

The work is expected to be completed by Dec. 15. The Raybird weighs less than 50 pounds, has a wingspan ranging from 10 to 14 feet and features an array of sensors and cameras used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The drone can remain airborne for more than 28 hours and has a range of about 1,500 miles. A system consisting of three drones and a ground station costs about $1 million, according to the Skyeton website. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has used short-, medium- and long-range drones to counter Russia’s larger military. The conflict has since evolved into intense drone