- Shrike 10 Fiber outperformed opponents, scoring greater than ten factors larger
- F10 drone earns Pentagon contract as a consequence of eliminating Chinese language elements successfully
- Fiber-optic steerage makes the Shrike drone resilient to digital warfare
The Pentagon has just lately chosen two Ukrainian drone producers as finalists in its $1.1 billion Drone Dominance program.
For years, Chinese language producer DJI has dominated the worldwide small drone market, however the US army is now actively in search of options that don’t depend on elements sourced from China.
The primary section of the competitors chosen 12 firms for contract negotiations, and two Ukrainian corporations — SkyFall and Ukrainian Protection Drones Tech Company — have been included on that listing.
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Ukrainian drones skips Chinese language elements
The highest finisher was the Shrike 10 Fiber, a fiber-optic FPV drone developed by Ukrainian firm SkyFall in partnership with British agency Skycutter.
The system scored 99.3 factors out of 100, ending greater than ten factors forward of its nearest competitor, an American firm, Neros.
The drone employs fiber-optic steerage fairly than conventional radio frequencies, making it invulnerable to digital warfare countermeasures.
The fiber-optic spool extends 20 km, guaranteeing a secure video feed all through the flight.
It carries as much as 1 kilogram of warhead mass. SkyFall declined to touch upon its participation, asking to attend for official bulletins.
The sixth-place finisher, Ukrainian Protection Drones Tech Company, offered a special worth proposition to American procurement officers.
The corporate’s F10 strike quadcopter scored 72.9 factors and earned a spot among the many 11 winners of the primary section that can divide an preliminary $150 million procurement price range.
The quadcopter was chosen largely as a result of the corporate has systematically eradicated Chinese language elements from its provide chain.
After starting drone manufacturing in 2023 with Chinese language-sourced elements, the corporate localized carbon body and antenna manufacturing in 2024.
By 2025, it had expanded to manufacturing flight controllers, pace controllers, and video transmission programs in-house or via European suppliers.
The Drone Dominance program is structured as a four-stage competitors — the primary section will lead to orders for about 30,000 programs at $5,000 per drone.
The primary-place finisher will obtain as much as 2500 orders, whereas the 11th and Twelfth-place finishers will get 1,500 and 1,400 orders, respectively.
Subsequent phases will enhance order portions whereas decreasing per-unit price targets and the variety of collaborating firms
Part two will procure 60,000 drones at $5,000 every from 10 firms, whereas section three will buy 100,000 drones at $3,000 every from seven firms.
The ultimate section will order 150,000 drones at $2,300 every from simply 5 firms.
Two different Ukrainian-connected entities, Drone Struggle Group and Basic Chereshnya, additionally participated however did not safe a spot among the many 12 winners.
By way of Defender Media / Defender Media
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