The U.S. will purchase Raybird reconnaissance drones for more than $10 million
The U.S. Army has awarded a $10.64 million contract to the U.S. subsidiary of the Ukrainian company Skyeton. Under the agreement, the U.S. will receive Raybird reconnaissance drones.
The fixed-price contract was announced on September 18, 2026. It was awarded to Skyeton Inc. of North Las Vegas, Nevada—the U.S. subsidiary of the Ukrainian manufacturer. Only one bid was submitted for the contract.
The estimated completion date for the order is December 15, 2026, and the scope of work and funding will be agreed upon separately for each order. The contracting authority is the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama; the contract number is W58RGZ-26-F-A026.
The U.S. Army has not yet disclosed the number of drones it plans to acquire, the receiving unit, the sensor suite, or whether the drones are intended for assessment, personnel training, or combat operations.
According to Skyeton, the system has a maximum takeoff weight of 23 kg, a wingspan ranging from 2.96 to 4.2 meters, a flight duration of up to 24 hours, and a maximum range of 2,500 km, with a standard communication range exceeding 200 km.
The drone takes off using a mechanical catapult and returns via a parachute with a shock-absorbing cushion, eliminating the need for an equipped airfield.
In terms of flight duration, the Raybird significantly outperforms small tactical UAVs already in use by U.S. units, such as the Puma LE manufactured by AeroVironment, which has an endurance of no more than 6.5 hours.
Source: Pentagon
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