The U.S. Army awarded a fixed-price contract to Skyeton Inc., the North Las Vegas-based American subsidiary of Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton. The agreement, designated as contract number W58RGZ-26-F-A026, was finalized through the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama following a single-bid solicitation announced on September 18, 2026.
Contract Specifications and Timeline
According to contracting documents, the order carries an estimated completion deadline of December 15, 2026. Project locations and funding allocations will be determined individually for each task order issued under the agreement. Army has not disclosed the total number of Raybird unmanned aerial systems it plans to acquire, the specific military unit designated to receive them, the integrated sensor packages included, or whether the aircraft are intended for operational deployment, personnel training, or evaluation purposes.
Technical Capabilities of the Raybird UAV
Skyeton reports that the Raybird aerial vehicle features a maximum takeoff weight of 23 kilograms and a wingspan adjustable between 2.96 and 4.2 meters. The tactical reconnaissance platform delivers an endurance of up to 24 hours and a maximum range of 2,500 kilometers, utilizing a standard communication data link effective over distances exceeding 200 kilometers. The aircraft launches via a mechanical catapult system and recovers using a parachute equipped with a shock-absorbing landing cushion, eliminating the requirement for a prepared runway or airfield infrastructure.
In terms of flight endurance, the Raybird significantly outperforms smaller tactical unmanned aerial systems currently utilized by American forces, such as the Puma LE produced by AeroVironment, which has a maximum endurance of approximately 6.5 hours. Skyeton notes that the system can operate alongside long-range artillery platforms including HIMARS, CAESAR, and Krab to relay target coordinates even during GPS jamming and electronic warfare conditions, though these tactical integrations are not listed as mandatory performance requirements in the baseline contract.
Production Footprint and U.S. Expansion
Skyeton reports that the Raybird platform has accumulated over 350,000 combat hours in Ukraine. The system also incorporates satellite communication links designed to maintain control capabilities beyond the operator’s line of sight. Army order remains unspecified in public contracting notices, Skyeton Inc. established a formal domestic production footprint in July 2026 by announcing a facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The company invested more than $3.1 million to convert a former Black & Decker manufacturing plant spanning approximately 2,650 square meters near the Fayetteville Regional Airport and Fort Bragg, a project slated to create 162 local jobs. This facility complements the company’s existing manufacturing operations in Ukraine and Slovakia, providing its Nevada-registered U.S. subsidiary with an established domestic infrastructure ahead of the September 2026 contract award.
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