Britain and Ukraine Launch Joint Drone Production Venture

British defense firm Prevail Partners and Ukrainian unmanned systems manufacturer Skyeton have announced the creation of a joint venture.

The partnership, supported by both governments, will enable serial production of the Raybird multi-purpose UAV in the United Kingdom, according to Prevail Partners’ official website.

The production line will supply additional drones to Ukraine’s Armed Forces and also serve the needs of the British Army and other NATO allies.

Under the agreement, the UK will fund the production of Ukrainian-designed drones on its territory for the next three years.

The Raybird platform is also expected to be integrated into British military systems, with a focus on land operations and maritime security.

Raybird is a NATO UAS Class 1 drone that has been combat-tested in Ukraine, logging over 350,000 flight hours. The system offers high endurance (up to 28 hours), rapid deployment (under 25 minutes), flight altitudes of up to 10,000 meters, and low attrition rates during combat operations.

Its modular design allows operators to quickly swap payloads without tools, ranging from a gyro-stabilized camera to a synthetic aperture radar or electronic warfare systems.

Former UK Defence Secretary Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who visited Skyeton’s production site in Ukraine, called Raybird one of the most effective dual-use drones globally. He said the new partnership would help position the UK as a leader in unmanned aviation.

Militarnyi previously reported that the UK and Ukraine announced plans on June 23, 2025, to launch joint production of Ukrainian drone models for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

The three-year agreement includes funding from the UK government for a broad range of Ukrainian-designed drones, which will be manufactured jointly in Britain.

According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umierov, during the ongoing full-scale war with Russia, all drone production will be allocated to Ukraine’s Defense Forces. After the war, the UK and Ukraine will share the output.