US Army Awards $10.6 Million Drone Contract to Skyeton

The United States Army awarded a $10.6 million fixed-price contract to Skyeton Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of a Ukrainian defense manufacturer, for the procurement of Raybird reconnaissance drones and associated support services. Announced by the Department of Defense on September 18, the contract was awarded via an internet tender without other bidders.

The Raybird unmanned aircraft system has been used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2018 and features a range of 1,500 miles and an endurance of up to 28 hours. The drones are scheduled for delivery to the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama by December 15, 2026.

This acquisition is part of a broader modernization effort to integrate Ukrainian drone technology, which previously included the evaluation of 2,000 F10 attack drones from F-Drones. To support these efforts and strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base, Skyeton is investing $3.1 million to build a flagship manufacturing facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina.