Ukrainian Skyeton and British Prevail Partners have launched a joint venture to manufacture Raybird drones in the UK

Ukrainian UAV developer Skyeton has announced a partnership with British defence and security company Prevail Partners. The two companies have established a new UK–Ukrainian joint venture — Skyeton Prevail Solutions — to manufacture unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the United Kingdom. The project will produce the Raybird UAS and focus on supplying and integrating it into the armed forces of the United Kingdom and other NATO countries.

According to the press release, Skyeton’s Raybird UAS has already completed thousands of flights in Ukraine, demonstrating exceptionally low loss rates and strong operational performance. Skyeton Prevail Solutions aims to bring this new generation of defence innovation into the UK’s defence procurement system.

The launch of the joint company is expected to accelerate deliveries and reduce technology costs, according to the alliance partners. They also note that recent agreements between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — aimed at strengthening joint efforts to advance drone technology — provided further momentum for establishing the new venture.

UK MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith said he recently visited Skyeton’s production facilities in Ukraine and witnessed firsthand the skill of its engineers and the efficiency of its battle-tested technologies and processes. “The company is truly one of the world’s leading producers of dual-use drones,” he said.

Prevail Partners chairman Justin Hedges confirmed that the Raybird is a world-class aerial platform with capabilities that significantly surpass other Class 1 UAVs. “That’s why we decided to form a joint venture with Skyeton to manufacture the Raybird in the UK and support its integration into NATO and UK combat operations and maritime security,” Hedges noted.

Skyeton’s international CEO Pavlo Shevchuk said the Raybird had shown outstanding effectiveness under the most demanding battlefield conditions in Ukraine. He believes that joining forces with a British company experienced in platform integration and systems deployment will significantly boost global demand for this unmanned aerial system.