The US Department of War (DOW) announced on Friday (September 18) that the US Army awarded a fixed-price contract worth about $10.64 million to the US subsidiary of Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton for the procurement of its developed Raybird reconnaissance drones and related services.
According to the contract announcement released by the US Department of War, the US Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama only received one bid from Skyeton after an online solicitation process.
The quantity of the contract has not been disclosed publicly, and it is expected to be completed by December 15, 2026. Specific delivery locations and funding will be determined in subsequent orders.
Skyeton stated that this is the first batch of Ukrainian Raybird drones confirmed to be directly delivered for use by the US Army, and the company will provide equipment and services on time.
The Raybird (ACS-3 model) is a small fixed-wing tactical drone designed for long-range reconnaissance. Its exceptional endurance capabilities have garnered attention.
Manufacturers highlighted that the drone can sustain flight for over 28 hours, travel distances exceeding 2,500 kilometers, operate at altitudes up to 5,500 meters, and carry sensors weighing between 5 to 10 kilograms. The aircraft can function normally in environments ranging from -35 to 55 degrees Celsius.
In February of this year, the drone was integrated with a satellite communication system, further extending its long-distance mission capabilities.
Since the comprehensive Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Raybird drone has accumulated over 350,000 combat flight hours, primarily conducting long-range reconnaissance missions.
The company emphasized that the drone’s long range, low attrition rate, and excellent anti-jamming performance have assisted Ukrainian forces in gathering intelligence and destroying a significant amount of enemy equipment.
On May 14th, a Russian airstrike destroyed Skyeton’s office in Kyiv, but due to the distribution of its drone production line to multiple facilities within and outside Ukraine in advance, the delivery work continues.
Ukrainian media commented that this procurement reflects the continued attention of the US Army to the operational experience of Ukrainian drones on the battlefield. The rapid development of drone technology on the Russian-Ukrainian battlefield has fundamentally changed the tactics of warfare.
In early September, the US Army terminated the specialized formation of a drone combat unit consisting of around 600 personnel. The unit was part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade based in Europe and had been in existence for less than a year. Subsequently, the unit will revert to the traditional airborne infantry role.
Both US party lawmakers expressed opposition to the decision and warned that disbanding this experimental unit could weaken the military’s ability to learn from the Ukrainian experience.
However, the US Army is actively advancing the integration of drones and related tactics in other areas.
Recently, Ukrainian personnel operated alongside US forces during the “Saber Junction” military exercise in Germany. The US military used approximately 1,900 drones in the exercise, incorporating tactical maneuvers based on Ukrainian experience.
The United States is not the only country interested in Ukrainian drones. Previously, Skyeton established a joint venture with British partner company Prevail Partners called “Skyeton Prevail Solutions” to produce Raybird drones for the NATO market and compete for a contract to replace the British Army’s outdated “Watchkeeper” drones.
Skyeton also collaborated with French sensor manufacturer Harmattan AI to integrate AI-driven payloads into their aircraft and sell Raybird drones in Poland through local distributors.