The US Army has placed an order worth over $52m with US drone manufacturer Skydio to supply more than 2,500 X10D small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS).
The Skydio X10D provides ISR capability at the platoon level and can operate autonomously without GPS.
The US Army has placed an order worth over $52m with US drone manufacturer Skydio to supply more than 2,500 X10D small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS).
According to Skydio, the contract was awarded in less than 72 hours from the initial bid and represents the largest single-manufacturer sUAS purchase in the Army’s history.
Skydio national security strategy global head Mark Valentine said: “This order reflects the decisive role small autonomous systems now play in modern conflict and the Army’s commitment to putting those capabilities in soldiers’ hands.
“It also shows that the United States can deliver world-class drone capability at the scale and speed required by today’s operational environment.”
Skydio’s X10D system is designed to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations at the platoon level.
The technology operates autonomously without GPS by using onboard navigation cameras to map terrain in real time, allowing flight in contested environments. Its multiband radio system manages frequency use to maintain connectivity even in areas with high interference.
Operators have access to both high-resolution visual and radiometric thermal cameras, allowing situational awareness around the clock from protected positions.
The procurement aligns with the US Army’s aim to expand autonomous reconnaissance capability beyond conventional acquisition timelines.
Skydio has supplied drones to every branch of the US military as well as 29 allied nations.
The company remains the sole manufacturer selected for both tranches of the US Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Program of Record in 2022 and 2025.
Production of every X10D takes place at Skydio’s facility in Hayward, California, and each unit is assembled and tested at 550 checkpoints before delivery, the company stated.
The Hayward site has increased its output capacity to meet large-scale orders while adhering to reliability standards.
In May last year, Skydio delivered its first batch of X10D sUAS under the US Army’s SRR Tranche 2 programme.
Additionally, Spain’s Ministry of Defence contracted Skydio in February last year for up to €18m to supply autonomous sUAS technology for the Spanish Armed Forces through Spanish distributor Paukner Group.
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