US Army awards $10.6 million contract for Ukrainian Raybird drones
Raybird systems have logged more than 350,000 combat hours since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton said.
The U.S. Army has contracted Skyeton Inc., the American branch of Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton, for a $10.64 million deal on Raybird reconnaissance drones and associated services, as announced by the Defense Department on September 18. The Raybird, an Ukrainian-designed fixed-wing reconnaissance drone, is frequently utilized on the Ukrainian battlefield for extended missions.
The exact quantity of drones procured remains unspecified. The contract, awarded to Skyeton Inc. as a firm-fixed-price agreement, encompasses the supply of Raybird unmanned aerial system hardware and related services. The contract's execution timeline and funding allocation will be decided per order, with completion anticipated by December 15, 2026.
The Raybird boasts a 24-hour operational endurance and can cover distances up to 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles). According to Skyeton, these drones have accumulated over 350,000 combat hours since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, with intelligence gathered from their use allegedly contributing to the destruction of military assets worth billions of dollars.
Skyeton has faced its own challenges, including a May 14 Russian attack on its Kyiv office and a recent alleged plot to burn down a drone factory in Slovakia. Despite these setbacks, the company's production remains operational across various locations in Ukraine and internationally. The U.S. Army's acquisition of Raybird drones aligns with the department's efforts to learn from Ukraine's warfare innovations.
Notably, the Army recently disbanded a 600-person drone warfare unit within the Europe-based 173rd Airborne Brigade, returning it to a conventional role. Lawmakers from both parties expressed concerns about weakening the military's capacity to learn from Ukraine's experiences. Nevertheless, the Army has incorporated drones and related tactics in other contexts, such as during the Saber Junction exercises in Germany, where American troops employed approximately 1,900 drones in maneuvers influenced by Ukraine's battlefield learnings.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
