Ukrainian company Skyeton, which produces ACS-3 (Raybird-3) reconnaissance systems, has launched production in Slovakia.

Oleksandr Stepura, the company’s founder, reported that $3.5 million had already been invested in the launch.

Raybird systems have been in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2018. The cost of one system, consisting of three aircraft, a portable ground control station, antenna system, launcher, a camera, photo camera, and radar, is $1.2 million, Forbes Ukraine writes.

Raybirds can stay in the air for 28 hours and cover a distance of up to 2,500 km at an altitude of up to 4,500 meters. Only five companies in the world can produce UAVs with similar characteristics, but their products are much more expensive than the Ukrainian one.

Between February 2022 and May 2024, the Ukrainian Defense Forces ordered more than 75 reconnaissance systems from Skyeton.

The production of Raybird drones in Slovakia started in the spring of 2024, with the company renting a 1000 sq m facility. The company invested $3.5 million to launch the production.

“We created it in case someone had an “income” for us in Ukraine,” Oleksandr Stepura shared.

Skyeton’s Ukrainian facilities can produce about 100 systems a year, but are only half full with government orders.

The General Staff, according to a former Skyeton top manager, estimates the need for long-range reconnaissance systems at 140 systems per year.

The Slovak plant is capable of building 25 reconnaissance systems per year, and after the investment round is closed, the capacity will be quadrupled. Skyeton is currently attracting $15 million in investments for the expansion.

Due to martial law, Raybird systems cannot be exported abroad, and the final price is limited to a 25% markup. In addition, development costs cannot be included in the price. The plant in Slovakia is not subject to these restrictions and opens up more opportunities in the global market.

In 2020, Skyeton developed an upgraded version of the ACS-3 (Raybird-3) drone.