American drone manufacturer Skydio has begun hiring employees in Ukraine, marking its initial steps towards entering the Ukrainian market.
As reported by Defense News, Skydio specializes in developing small, copter-type reconnaissance drones that are currently used by Ukrainian forces and have been approved for procurement by the U.S. military.
Adam Bry, the company's CEO, stated that Skydio has already recruited about a dozen Ukrainian professionals. They are primarily focused on development and technical support for users.
"I have never met such experienced drone operators as those in Ukraine. We want to have a team there," Bry remarked.
Regarding production in Ukraine, Bry mentioned that Skydio is considering manufacturing drones in the country. Initially, this could involve producing components, including communication systems protected from electronic warfare (EW) onboard systems.
The Russian-Ukrainian war has become the first conflict where small copter-type drones are actively utilized, and a battleground for testing the latest unmanned aerial system technologies.
In his assessments, Bry went so far as to say that Ukraine's needs have become a driving force for Skydio's production development, even if the requirements differ from those set by the U.S. government.
