Seeing better and farther is one of the key requirements for scouts in modern warfare. This allows for the preservation of soldiers' lives and their equipment.
That’s why unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have become an integral part of reconnaissance. Ukrainian developments are actively used on the front lines, with technical characteristics that surpass global counterparts.
One of them is the Raybird UAS (better known among military personnel as ACS-3), whose appearance led to a reformatting of all existing drone classifications. This is because the small aircraft (weighing up to 25 kg) can perform tasks typically reserved for much larger systems. The Ukrainian Raybird has significant combat experience: over 350,000 combat flight hours and dozens of missions every day. This reconnaissance aircraft can stay in the air for up to 28 hours and cover a distance of up to 2,500 km. Thanks to these characteristics and its compact form, it can bypass enemy air defense systems and areas with active electronic warfare, conducting high-quality visual reconnaissance at altitudes up to 5.5 km and performing other tasks.
Due to its modular design and compact size, the UAS can be used for various missions, does not require special takeoff or landing conditions, and has a high degree of reparability—damaged parts can be replaced in just a few minutes.
Payloads, which can be changed in one minute:
- Gyrostabilized multisensor pods with a laser targeting system;
- Cameras;
- Synthetic aperture radar (SAR);
- Various types of loitering munitions;
- FPV drones.
The basic model of Raybird was developed back in 2016, and by 2018, the ACS-3/Raybird aviation complex was adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Since then, it has been continuously improved and modernized.
A “highlight” of one of the latest versions of the complex was the integration of a laser-guided munition system that operates with an accuracy of up to one meter. It is the only drone of its class with such a system, and its effectiveness has already been proven in real combat. The laser guidance operates at a sufficient distance from the target to deliver accurate hits while maintaining the integrity of the launch platform.
Combat experience gained in Ukraine confirms Raybird's reliability, its resilience to electronic warfare, and its cost-effectiveness. This makes the UAS a valuable tool for both defense and commercial missions. The localization of production by over 90% is also crucial for the development of the Ukrainian economy.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine supports domestic developers and manufacturers of high-tech weapons and military equipment.
