Ukrainian unmanned aerial systems manufacturer Skyeton has developed the Stormbird tactical UAV system, designed specifically for high-precision strike missions. The company said so in a press release.
Skyeton said Stormbird underwent codification with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence at the start of the year. The new platform is already being used by units of Ukraine’s Defence Forces to strike enemy targets.
Stormbird was built on the architecture of the Raybird (ACS-3) UAV system. In particular, Skyeton said its development drew on experience from more than 350,000 hours of Raybird combat use. The company added that the new drone offers greater payload integration capabilities and flexibility to carry out a broader range of missions.
According to the developers, Stormbird inherited its predecessor’s endurance and resistance to electronic warfare. At the same time, the UAV system has gained advanced strike capabilities.
“With Stormbird, we have stepped beyond reconnaissance. This UAV system combines Raybird’s endurance and low observability with the precision and versatility required for modern strike missions. Our vision is to create a comprehensive ecosystem of small fixed-wing UAV systems capable of conducting reconnaissance, detection and target designation — and now delivering high-precision strikes in conditions where manned aircraft, or even larger UAVs, cannot operate,” said Skyeton CEO Roman Kniazhenko.
The drone can carry the following payload options
- Remora – a glide munition;
- Quadremora – an FPV-type loitering munition;
- A relay to ensure continuous communications beyond the coverage area of ground infrastructure.
The company added that the drone’s compact airframe minimises radar visibility, while a high level of autonomy and the ability to deliver high-precision strikes make the system effective in dynamic combat conditions.
The basic model of the Raybird fixed-wing reconnaissance drone was developed back in 2016, and in 2018 the ACS-3/Raybird aerial system was adopted into service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine; since then it has been continuously improved and modernised.
According to data from the Ministry of Defence, it can remain in the air for up to 28 hours and cover distances of up to 2,500 km. The drone’s speed is 80–140 km/h. Thanks to these characteristics and its compact shape, it can bypass enemy air defence systems and areas of active electronic warfare in order to conduct visual reconnaissance from altitudes of up to 5.5 km and perform other tasks. The drone can also carry 5–10 kg of payload. The Ministry of Defence added that as of 2025, Raybird drones had completed more than 350,000 hours of combat sorties.
It recently emerged that the US Army will purchase Ukrainian Raybird reconnaissance drones. The supply contract was signed with the American division of the Ukrainian company Skyeton. Under the agreement, Skyeton is to deliver the drones by around 15 December 2026.