Ukrainian company Skyeton launches drone production in Slovakia

The Ukrainian company Skyeton, known for its ACS-3/Raybird-3 reconnaissance systems, has expanded its operations to Slovakia. The company's founder, Oleksandr Stepura, said that investments in the new Slovak factory reached $3.5 million.

Here's What We Know

Raybird systems, which have been in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2018, are promising drones. Each $1.2 million system includes three UAVs, a portable ground control station, an antenna system, a launcher, as well as a camera, a camera and radars.

These UAVs can stay in the air for 28 hours, cover a distance of up to 2,500 km and climb to an altitude of 4,500 metres. The Raybird is one of only five UAVs worldwide with such capabilities, but it is more cost-effective than its foreign counterparts.

From February 2022 to May 2024, Skyeton received orders for more than 75 reconnaissance systems from the Ukrainian Defence Forces.

Production at the new plant in Slovakia began in spring 2024. This plant can produce 25 systems per year, and after the completion of the investment round, this capacity is planned to be quadrupled.

In Ukraine, Skyeton's facilities can produce about 100 systems per year, but the demand of the Ukrainian military is 140 systems per year. The new plant in Slovakia will help reduce the deficit. Unlike Ukraine, which has martial law that restricts the export of Raybird systems, Slovakia has no such restrictions. This opens up opportunities for Skyeton to enter the global market and expand its international customer base.

Source: Defence Industry Europe