UK Aims for Industrial Autonomy and Surveillance Dominance with Ukrainian Raybird Drone.

According to information published by Skyeton on July 2, 2025, the Ukrainian company announced the creation of a joint venture with the UK-based defense consultancy Prevail Partners, named Skyeton Prevail Solutions. This partnership aims to offer the Raybird unmanned aerial system as part of the British Ministry of Defence’s CORVUS program, launched to replace the Army’s current Watchkeeper drones. The objective is to equip British forces with a 24-hour persistent aerial surveillance solution that aligns more closely with current operational demands.
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The Raybird is a NATO Group 1 drone with over 350,000 combat flight hours in Ukraine, offering 28-hour endurance, rapid deployment, and proven performance in contested environments, making it well-suited for agile frontline operations (Picture source: Skyeton )

The Raybird, classified as a NATO Group 1 system, has demonstrated extensive operational use. It has logged over 350,000 flight hours over Ukrainian territory, where it is used daily in an environment characterized by electronic warfare and advanced air defense threats. This combat-tested background provides the Raybird with operational credibility for armed forces seeking proven systems suitable for high-intensity conflict. The platform offers 28 hours of endurance, an operational ceiling of 10,000 meters, and can be deployed in under 25 minutes by a two-person team. These features make it compatible with the mobility and agility required by frontline units.

Compared to Watchkeeper WK450, a £1.3 billion program criticized for delays, limited reliability, and heavy logistical demands, the Raybird presents a clear capability shift. The Watchkeeper requires significant technical support, prepared runways for takeoff and landing, and cannot be rapidly deployed in hostile environments without prior infrastructure. In contrast, Raybird can be launched via catapult, transported in a light vehicle, and operated from temporary field positions. This flexibility supports rapid deployment and integration into reconnaissance units, special forces, and combined arms teams, without reliance on fixed installations.

The system supports multiple interchangeable payloads, including a stabilized electro-optical camera with target designation, an infrared sensor, a high-resolution reconnaissance camera, a synthetic aperture radar for all-weather imaging, and a radio frequency locator. This modular configuration enables rapid adaptation to specific mission needs while ensuring multispectral coverage in areas subject to electronic interference by opposing forces.

Through the joint venture established in the UK, Skyeton and Prevail Partners also aim to support British industrial strategic autonomy. The initiative forms part of a broader bilateral agreement signed on June 23, 2025, between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to increase cooperation in military co-production. If selected, initial systems could be supplied from Skyeton’s facility in Slovakia, followed by the establishment of a local production line in the UK. This would support the development of national competencies in drone manufacturing, create specialized jobs, and reduce reliance on external suppliers.

From a doctrinal perspective, the Raybird aligns with NATO’s evolving requirements for attritable system cost-effective platforms that can be fielded in significant numbers and operate in contested environments. Its low radar signature, capacity to function in GPS- or comms-denied areas, and lower cost compared to the platforms it seeks to replace make it suitable for modern warfare. Adversaries would need to spend disproportionately more to neutralize the Raybird, introducing a deterrent effect based on cost asymmetrical and operational resilience.

Beyond its technical and industrial dimensions, the Skyeton–Prevail partnership also reflects a geopolitical decision by the UK to incorporate frontline-proven Ukrainian technologies into its defense architecture. Former UK government minister Sir Iain Duncan Smith described the initiative as a step toward strengthening the country's position in drone technology, drawing on national academic, research, and industrial capabilities.