A Ukrainian company has invested $3.5M in the production of UAVs in Slovakia.

Oleksandr Stepura, the founder of Skyeton, which manufactures ACS-3 (Raybird-3) reconnaissance systems, said that Raybird drones began to be manufactured in Slovakia this spring.

The Raybird has been in service with Ukraine’s Armed Forces since 2018. The Raybird can stay aloft for 28 hours while patrolling up to 2,500 km at an altitude of up to 4,500 meters. Only five companies worldwide can produce UAVs with similar characteristics, but their products are much more expensive than the Ukrainian system.

Skyeton’s Ukrainian facilities allow the production of approximately 100 systems, or complexes, per year but are only at half capacity with government orders. Due to the war, Raybird systems cannot be exported abroad, and the final price is limited to a 25% markup.

The plant in Slovakia does not fall under these restrictions and opens more opportunities in the global market. The Slovakian plant can build 25 intelligence systems per year, and after closing a $15M investment round, capacity will be increased by 300%.