Skyeton and Harmattan AI announce strategic partnership to integrate French sensor technologies into Raybird UAV

Ukrainian defence tech company Skyeton and French defence startup Harmattan AI have entered into a strategic partnership to integrate Harmattan AI’s sensor technologies into Skyeton’s flagship unmanned aerial system, the Raybird. The collaboration aims to accelerate Raybird’s entry into global markets and combine the technological expertise of the Ukrainian and French defence industries.

Founded in April 2024, Harmattan AI develops and manufactures unmanned systems with a high degree of onboard autonomy and artificial intelligence. The company already has contracts with NATO to supply thousands of UAVs and plans to scale production in France, as well as expand into the German and US markets.

Harmattan AI’s strength lies in optical radars and situational awareness systems. Its reconnaissance UAV SAHARA, for instance, is capable of detecting targets in low-visibility conditions and locating well-camouflaged enemy positions.

According to Skyeton International CEO Pavlo Shevchuk, the partnership with Harmattan AI will speed up Raybird’s deployment across key NATO markets, particularly in France. Harmattan AI co-founder and CEO Mouad M’Ghari stressed that the collaboration will enable armed forces to receive intelligence where and when it is most needed, strengthening NATO’s defence capabilities and European security.

In July, Defender Media reported that Skyeton had announced a partnership with British defence and security company Prevail Partners. That project will see Raybird systems manufactured in the UK, as well as delivered and integrated into the British Army and other NATO forces. In addition, Raybird production is already underway at the facilities of Tropozond s.r.o. in Slovakia.