UK military to receive Ukrainian-made Raybird drones
Photo: Raybird drone by Skyeton (wikimedia.org)
The British Army is set to receive the state-of-the-art Raybird drone, developed by the Ukrainian company Skyeton, according to Skyeton's official website.
Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton has announced the creation of a joint venture with UK-based Prevail Partners to ramp up production of its Raybird unmanned aerial system (UAS) for the British Army.
According to Skyeton’s official statement, the new entity, Skyeton Prevail Solutions, will focus on accelerating mass production, supply, and integration of the Raybird system into British armed forces units.
The Raybird drone, which has already completed thousands of combat missions in Ukraine with "an exceptionally low loss rate," is a NATO Class I UAS with modular payload capacity, allowing easy tool-free equipment swaps.
Available payload options include:
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Target acquisition cameras;
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High-resolution optics for reconnaissance;
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Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for imaging in darkness or poor weather;
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RF locators.
Skyeton emphasizes that Raybird is highly sought after by combat units due to its operational effectiveness, resilience, and minimal risk to operators.
The joint venture plans to scale Raybird production in the UK for use not only by the British Armed Forces but also by Ukrainian forces and partner nations’ militaries.
Ukraine-UK cooperation in UAV production
This partnership aligns with the UK’s recent decision to allocate billions of pounds to expand its drone capabilities, leveraging Ukrainian combat experience. In addition, during the latest Ramstein-format meeting on Ukraine defense, the UK pledged a £350 million drone aid package, which includes the delivery of 100,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of the year.
