Skyeton

Skyeton: from ultralight aircraft to modern unmanned aerial systems. Few people know that Skyeton’s story actually began with aircraft, not unmanned systems, as some might think. Eighteen years ago, in 2006, Skyeton took its first steps into aviation with the production of the ultralight aircraft K-10 Swift. These early ventures laid the groundwork for the company’s commitment to aviation-grade production standards. From the very beginning, Skyeton positioned itself as an aviation company — not just a manufacturer of UAVs. For nearly a decade, Skyeton produced the K-10 Swift, which is still in active use around the world today. The turning point came in 2015, following the war russia initiated against Ukraine, when the company made the strategic decision to pivot from manned aircraft to unmanned aerial systems (UAS). By 2016, the first prototypes of their UAS, named Raybird, were successfully tested. Just two years later, in 2018, the Raybird entered serial production, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces officially adopted it under the name ACS-3. That same year, Raybird set a national record for continuous flight duration in Ukraine — surpassing 24 hours. Beyond Ukraine, Raybird began flying internationally, serving a variety of civilian purposes such as border monitoring and powerline inspections. When the russian full-scale invasion in Ukraine began in 2022, Skyeton shifted all its efforts toward defending the country. So, it’s no surprise that Skyeton continues to proudly use the term "aviation" to describe itself — it’s embedded in the company’s DNA.

Skyeton's founder, Alexander Stepura, was honored to speak at the Navigating the Future of European Defence panel organized by FTI Consulting EU in Brussels on Oct 17 on how Ukrainian defense and deeptech companies could share their cutting-edge developments to help strengthen EU security. With over 18 years in the aviation business, and, ironically, as a pilot himself, Alex Stepura is sure that the future of warfare is with unmanned systems. In this segment, Ukraine is not only ready to defend itself but add value and integrate with NATO and EU in strengthening the security of the Eastern flank. As one of the event guests wittily put it, "EU'd better sober up and start taking its security and defense seriously, or begin to learn russian". It was gratifying to see high positioned participants working hard towards the former option.

Skyeton's CEO Roman Knyazhenko Shares Insights in Exclusive NV Interview In an interview with NV, our CEO Roman Knyazhenko discussed the impressive capabilities of the ACS-3 UAV, which has been in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces since 2018. With a flight range of up to 2500 km and an endurance of over 28 hours, the ACS-3 plays a crucial role in deep reconnaissance and strike missions, including electronic warfare, supply delivery, and combat operations. Roman Knyazhenko emphasized the UAV's efficiency in operating in difficult conditions, with minimal infrastructure needs. Skyeton’s ACS-3 can be prepared for flight in just 20 minutes, offering unique advantages on the battlefield. These features, combined with its multi-role capabilities, position Skyeton’s ACS-3 as one of the leaders in UAV technology on the global stage. Read more about Skyeton's impact and the future of UAV technology in Ukraine here (article in Ukrainian): https://lnkd.in/ehQ9EgkM

Skyeton is proud to partner with the IV National Engineering Hackathon SmaRTF, organized by National Technical University of Ukraine 'Kyiv Polytechnic Institute'. Participants will develop smart military electronics to support Ukraine’s defense, competing in categories such as defense, offense, reconnaissance, rescue, security, and training systems for the military. As a key partner, Skyeton is actively involved: Our CEO, Roman Knyazhenko, will give the opening speech. Yevhenii Kharkov, our systems engineer, will mentor teams. Dmitriy Utva, our CTO, will serve as a jury member to evaluate final prototypes. The competition takes place in two stages: October 18-20: Teams will solve challenges and present their projects online. December 14: Finalists will present functional prototypes in an offline session. The winning team will receive a $2,000 cash prize and additional rewards. For more details, visit: https://smartf.kpi.ua/

Our CEO, Roman Knyazhenko, has published a column on Ukrainska Pravda. In his article, "Looking Ahead: Five Lessons from Our War for NATO’s Military Doctrine," Roman discusses key insights from russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and their potential impact on NATO's military strategies. The article covers five main aspects: Drones: Their expanded role in modern warfare, from reconnaissance to long-range strikes, and how they fill the gap between traditional weapons and individual combat systems. Cost of War: Demonstrating how low-cost drones can deliver critical results, offering an alternative to expensive military assets. Coordination: The importance of integrating drones with traditional weaponry to enhance coordination and effectiveness on the battlefield. Mobility and Speed: How new technologies enable soldiers to take greater initiative, increasing their operational flexibility. Automation: The future of autonomous drones powered by AI, capable of identifying and eliminating targets without human input. For full details, read Roman's article in Ukrainian on Ukrainska Pravda: https://lnkd.in/eqdpqMsu

Last week, our founder Alexander Stepura participated in the Defense Tech Valley international investment summit in Kyiv. This exclusive, invite-only event, organized by the BRAVE1 cluster, brought together over 100 global investors and more than 250 Ukrainian defense tech teams to showcase innovations aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities. The event was not publicly announced, and all participants were required to sign a declaration confirming no ties to russia. During the summit, Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science, and Technology Development, emphasized the importance of defense technologies in modern warfare and Ukraine's ability to leverage innovative solutions to counter enemy advantages. The event provided a unique opportunity for Ukrainian developers to connect with international partners and present cutting-edge systems that have already proven their effectiveness in combat. Skyeton presented our latest advancements in unmanned systems, focusing on cutting-edge innovations designed to meet the evolving needs of modern warfare and technological progress.

Eugene Yakovlev of Skyeton participated in the panel discussion at 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 & 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 in Tallinn. The conversation around investments in defense and dual-use technologies is crucial for shaping the future of innovation. Thanks to the panelists and moderators for a productive discussion.

Our CEO, Roman Knyazhenko, took part in a discussion with Minister of Defense RUSTEM UMEROV, along with leading Ukrainian UAV manufacturers. The conversation focused on the critical issues surrounding the development and production of UAVs, as well as the broader challenges facing the defense manufacturing industry. One of the key topics raised was the need to simplify contracting rules to enable faster and more affordable UAV production, while also pushing for limited export capabilities. These steps are crucial for scaling up production and further strengthening the Ukrainian military. At Skyeton, we strongly believe that opening up export opportunities is crucial — not just for us but for all major defense manufacturers in Ukraine. Exporting will help scale up production, lower costs for the military, and generate additional tax revenue for the country. It is essential for maintaining innovation in R&D, ensuring that our military receives cutting-edge equipment at the pace needed. This conversation marked another step towards greater collaboration between business and the state, ensuring that our soldiers are equipped with the best tools available.

Powertrains provide the capability, but fuel dictates performance. In our ongoing series exploring UAV powertrains, we've covered the technical aspects of propulsion systems, from electric to hydrogen options. Today, we’re focusing on a critical element that fuels these powertrains: the fuel itself. Different fuel types offer unique advantages and trade-offs, shaping mission performance and operational costs. Let’s break down how gasoline, diesel, and hydrogen impact UAV efficiency and endurance. Gasoline: The standard for maximizing range on extended missions. It's widely accessible and relatively simple to source and handle, offering strong power output. However, its efficiency is lower compared to alternatives that directly convert stored energy into propulsion, leading to higher fuel consumption and operating costs over extended missions. Diesel: While diesel fuel can increase overall flight endurance, it comes at the cost of additional aircraft weight which reduces the overall time on mission. This cuts into the advantages diesel aims to provide. Consequently, it’s rarely used in UAVs. Hydrogen: This fuel holds potential to transform UAV operations, offering extended missions at lower costs. Hydrogen powertrains could eventually handle up to 80% of the missions currently powered by gasoline, all while decreasing operational expenses. Ultimately, selecting the ideal fuel is a strategic give-and-take carefully weighed against your mission's priorities and requirements. If the mission demands substantial but not extreme endurance, hydrogen presents a compelling option — it offers a solid 8-hour shift with cost savings.

On this special day, we express our heartfelt gratitude to all the brave men and women who protect and defend Ukraine. To our soldiers, veterans, and all those on the frontlines, your courage, strength, and sacrifice inspire us every day. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our nation’s freedom. Happy Defenders’ Day of Ukraine! Photo by Ozge Elif Kizil / Anadolu / Getty Images