Ukrainian UAV manufacturer Skyeton and UK defense firm Prevail Partners have announced the creation of a joint venture aimed at promoting the Raybird UAV for procurement by the British Armed Forces.
The partnership, revealed in a communiqué on July 2 and reported by Janes, is expected to significantly boost the production of the combat-proven system.
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According to the announcement, Skyeton will contribute its field-tested and continuously upgraded Raybird UAV platform, while Prevail Partners will be responsible for adapting the system to British operational standards and providing local manufacturing capabilities. This strongly suggests plans to produce the drone on UK soil — a move that could both enhance its appeal for British defense procurement and bypass export restrictions related to military goods from Ukraine.
The Raybird UAV, also known as Raybird-3 or ACS-3, has been under development since 2014 and was officially adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2016. It gained national attention in 2019 for setting a record in flight endurance, and by February 2025 had accumulated over 300,000 operational flight hours.
Capable of covering distances up to 2,500 km (with a 220 km control range), the Raybird typically performs 8–14-hour missions in combat conditions. On average, each UAV completes around 40 missions.
The platform is continually modernized — including the integration of a new signals intelligence payload — and receives about 40 updates per year based on real battlefield feedback.
The drone can carry a payload of 5 kg while weighing 22 kg in total. Notably, over 80% of its components are produced in Ukraine, offering significant strategic autonomy and supply chain security.
The launch of this joint venture marks a major step for the Raybird UAV's entry into the global arms market. It also aligns well with the UK Armed Forces’ evolving doctrine, which emphasizes greater reliance on unmanned systems for future operations.
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