Recon platform, logistics UAV and drone carrier: what’s known about Saker Hunter by Twist Robotics

Ukrainian company Twist Robotics has codified the Saker Hunter unmanned aircraft. Company representatives told Defender Media that the drone can perform three types of missions — reconnaissance, transport-strike, and FPV-carrying. The platform is now available for pre-order on the state Brave1 marketplace.

As Defender Media learned from the manufacturer, in its transport configuration, Saker Hunter can deliver a payload of up to 5 kg over a distance of 50 km, perform a drop, and return to base. In relay mode, the aircraft boasts an endurance of up to three hours. When configured as a drone carrier, the aircraft can transport two 7-inch FPV drones to a range of up to 40 km.

The platform is integrated with the proprietary Oscar visual-inertial navigation module developed by Twist Robotics. This system calculates coordinates by cross-referencing terrain imagery with digital maps, enabling mission execution without reliance on satellite navigation. The operator pre-sets the route and flight parameters; post-launch, the platform operates autonomously, completing its mission and returning to the recovery point without continuous manual piloting.

The unit price of a single aircraft on Brave1 Market is 336,000 UAH, while a complete aviation complex, including supplementary batteries, costs approximately 1.8 million UAH. According to the developer, the aircraft has logged over 50,000 km during active combat operations.

The localisation level of Saker Hunter production currently stands at approximately 70%, with projections to reach 95% by the second quarter of 2026. The development of the Oscar navigation module was facilitated by a grant from Brave1.

Earlier, Defender Media reported on the first unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) designed to serve as a drone carrier, presented by Ratel Robotics.