Spain’s Ministry of Defence has selected US drone manufacturer Skydio to provide small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The 18-million-euro ($19-million) contract will see the California-based firm partner with Paukner Group, a Spanish defense distributor, to deliver its advanced X10D drones to the Spanish Army.
“We’re honored to support the Spanish Armed Forces with Skydio’s most advanced drone platform,” Skydio CEO Adam Bry stated. “This win is a reflection of the growing importance of small drones on the modern battlefield.”
Details regarding the total quantity and delivery schedule of the order have not been disclosed.
Once delivered, the X10D UAS will support a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, force protection, facility security, and crowd control.
About the X10D Drone
Skydio’s X10D drone is built to operate in contested environments, utilizing artificial intelligence to bolster its resilience against electronic warfare threats.
Its visual inertial odometry system allows it to continue operations even under jamming or in GPS-denied conditions.
The UAS also features cutting-edge sensors and an open architecture for future upgrades without major design changes.
With high-resolution visual and radiometric thermal cameras, the X10D can detect objects, vehicles, and humans at long distances.
The drone can reach speeds of up to 45 miles (72 kilometers) per hour and deploy in under 40 seconds.
Since being cleared for shipment in 2024, Skydio has delivered over 45,000 units to the US military and 25 allied nations.
The X10D was also a finalist in the US Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance Tranche 2 program to replace the RQ-28A quadcopters.
