The war in Ukraine is the first major conflict to see the widespread use of cheap, off-the-shelf drones. Never before so many drones have been used in military confrontations.
To secure air superiority and reduce its reliance on external providers, Ukraine is making substantial investments in the local manufacturing of combat drones to counter the Russian military challenge.
Last week, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced the SkyKnight drone on August 19, 2023. It is a small, octocopter drone that can carry a 2.5 kg payload. The SkyKnight is the latest in a series of domestically produced drones that have been developed by Ukraine since the start of the war.
Small in size but packs a punch!
The SkyKnight is small and lightweight, making it easy to transport and deploy. It can carry a 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) payload, including a bomb or other type of weapon. This weight is three to five times greater than that of a hand grenade, making it a substantial explosive load for a drone of such dimensions.
The drone is equipped with a camera and a thermal imaging sensor, and it can be used for both reconnaissance and attack missions. The SkyKnight drone is resistant to enemy jamming and other countermeasures like anti-drone guns, which can make it useful for carrying out a variety of missions.
