The package combines SkyFall’s Shrike first-person view attack drones with Auterion’s Skynode S autonomy software, adding terminal guidance that allows the aircraft to engage maneuvering targets even in signal-denied environments.
Virginia-based autonomy developer Auterion and Kyiv drone manufacturer SkyFall have collaborated to supply 50,000 tactical unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to the Ukrainian Armed Forces under a German-funded contract.
The package combines SkyFall’s Shrike first-person view (FPV) attack drones with Auterion’s Skynode S autonomy software, adding terminal guidance that allows the aircraft to engage maneuvering targets even in signal-denied environments.
The integration also lays the groundwork for future drone swarming capabilities without requiring major changes to the airframe.
The companies said deliveries of the Ukrainian-built drones began in mid-July and will continue over the coming months.
According to Reuters, Germany has committed approximately 90 million euros ($102.5 million) to fund the procurement. Berlin declined to comment on the agreement’s specifics, citing operational security, while Ukraine’s defense procurement agency also withheld additional contract details.
“Behind every Shrike are years of R&D (research and development), engineering excellence, and continuous improvement,” said Mykola Makovieiev, CEO of SkyFall.
“Today, we welcome Auterion’s decision to join forces with the most effective FPV drone on the front line to create a technology that meets not only the demands of today’s battlefield, but also the challenges of tomorrow.”
The Shrike and Skynode S
SkyFall’s Shrike FPV drone is available in 7-inch (18-centimeter) and 10-inch (25-centimeter) configurations for reconnaissance, strike, and heavy-lift missions.
It can carry up to 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of payload, fly missions out to 20 kilometers (12 miles), and be equipped with day cameras, sensors, and onboard computer vision to operate in contested electronic warfare environments.
Skynode S, meanwhile, is built around a compact 24-watt computing module weighing 38 grams (1.3 ounces).
Powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor with 4 GB of memory and 32 GB of onboard storage, it provides the processing needed for onboard autonomy while supporting high-definition video encoding.
Source: Drone Front
