American drone manufacturer Skydio expands presence in Ukraine amid strategy change
Date: 2024-06-27 Author: Michail Kovalenko Categories: MILITARY ASSISTANCE
Problems with Skydio drones on the Ukrainian front
The American company Skydio, known for its unmanned aerial vehicles, recently announced the hiring of employees in Ukraine. This decision comes amid difficulties the company has encountered in supplying its drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) to fight Russian occupiers. It was previously reported that hundreds of Skydio drones sent to Ukraine performed poorly in Russian electronic warfare conditions.
New company strategy
Skydio CEO, Adam Bry, in an interview with Defense News, explained that the company began to attract Ukrainian specialists, which was the first step towards expanding business in the region. "I've never met such experienced drone users as the people in Ukraine. We want a team there," Bry said.
At the moment, the number of employees hired is small and they are focused on design and customer support. Bry expressed hope that in the future the company will be able to produce drones directly in Ukraine, starting with the creation of small components such as collision avoidance equipment.
The needs of the Ukrainian military are driving the development of new Skydio products, even if they do not coincide with the requirements of the US government. Skydio's main defense contract is for the Army's short-range intelligence program, which the company won in 2021. Skydio is currently competing for the second phase of this contract, with selection due in 2025. For this purpose, Skydio offers a new X10D drone, which has also attracted the interest of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
Ukraine as a testing ground
According to Bry, the requirements of the Ukrainian army are similar to the requirements of the US army, but are not completely identical. The main difference is the drones' resistance to intense Russian interference. “For us, this is a change in strategy. Where there are disagreements, we give priority to what we see in Ukraine,” Bry said.
He also emphasized that Ukraine is a “testing ground” for small drones. If they can operate successfully in the context of the Ukrainian conflict, it will be good advertising for the US military. However, Bry acknowledged that this is due to business risks that the company is willing to take on.
War in Ukraine and the use of drones
The war in Ukraine was the first where commercial drones were widely used. Over the past two years, Ukraine has become a sandbox for companies around the world trying to test their equipment. Most drones used in Ukraine are made in China, which dominates the global market.
The American company Skydio sent hundreds of its drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but they showed poor results. According to The Wall Street Journal, Skydio's drones were thrown off course and lost due to Russian electronic warfare. The publication added that most small drones developed by American startups have failed in combat conditions, which is bad news for the Pentagon, which needs a reliable supply of thousands of drones.
Skydio, despite the setbacks, continues to develop its technologies and expand its presence in Ukraine. The needs of the Ukrainian army and harsh operating conditions are driving the development of new, more resilient drones. Skydio is willing to accept the risks associated with changing strategy and hopes that the successful application of their technologies in Ukraine will be an important step towards strengthening their position in the global drone market.
The American company Skydio, known for its unmanned aerial vehicles, recently announced the hiring of employees in Ukraine. This decision comes amid difficulties the company has encountered in supplying its drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) to fight Russian occupiers. It was previously reported that hundreds of Skydio drones sent to Ukraine performed poorly in Russian electronic warfare conditions.
New company strategy
Skydio CEO, Adam Bry, in an interview with Defense News, explained that the company began to attract Ukrainian specialists, which was the first step towards expanding business in the region. "I've never met such experienced drone users as the people in Ukraine. We want a team there," Bry said.
At the moment, the number of employees hired is small and they are focused on design and customer support. Bry expressed hope that in the future the company will be able to produce drones directly in Ukraine, starting with the creation of small components such as collision avoidance equipment.
The needs of the Ukrainian military are driving the development of new Skydio products, even if they do not coincide with the requirements of the US government. Skydio's main defense contract is for the Army's short-range intelligence program, which the company won in 2021. Skydio is currently competing for the second phase of this contract, with selection due in 2025. For this purpose, Skydio offers a new X10D drone, which has also attracted the interest of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
Ukraine as a testing ground
According to Bry, the requirements of the Ukrainian army are similar to the requirements of the US army, but are not completely identical. The main difference is the drones' resistance to intense Russian interference. “For us, this is a change in strategy. Where there are disagreements, we give priority to what we see in Ukraine,” Bry said.
He also emphasized that Ukraine is a “testing ground” for small drones. If they can operate successfully in the context of the Ukrainian conflict, it will be good advertising for the US military. However, Bry acknowledged that this is due to business risks that the company is willing to take on.
War in Ukraine and the use of drones
The war in Ukraine was the first where commercial drones were widely used. Over the past two years, Ukraine has become a sandbox for companies around the world trying to test their equipment. Most drones used in Ukraine are made in China, which dominates the global market.
The American company Skydio sent hundreds of its drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but they showed poor results. According to The Wall Street Journal, Skydio's drones were thrown off course and lost due to Russian electronic warfare. The publication added that most small drones developed by American startups have failed in combat conditions, which is bad news for the Pentagon, which needs a reliable supply of thousands of drones.
Skydio, despite the setbacks, continues to develop its technologies and expand its presence in Ukraine. The needs of the Ukrainian army and harsh operating conditions are driving the development of new, more resilient drones. Skydio is willing to accept the risks associated with changing strategy and hopes that the successful application of their technologies in Ukraine will be an important step towards strengthening their position in the global drone market.
