The Ukrainian Raybird reconnaissance drone in the hydrogen-electric power plant version has begun to be used on the front. Skyeton says that the hybrid modification has already passed the training stage and will be on full combat duty from December 2025.
The Ukrainian Raybird reconnaissance drone in the hydrogen-electric power plant version has begun to be used on the front. Skyeton says that the hybrid modification has already passed the training stage and will be on full combat duty from December 2025.
According to Military, the manufacturer Skyeton adapted the platform for the new fuel system by developing a different fuselage architecture. The company explains that the design change is necessary to properly distribute space and weight for hydrogen power and to optimize the serial production of this version.
Skyeton emphasizes that hydrogen-electric propulsion should combine the advantages of an electric motor with the possibility of long-term continuous flight. Skyeton CEO Roman Kniazhenko notes that for Raybird it is critical to maintain a balance of reliability, power and ease of maintenance, since the device is used for deep reconnaissance with a high-tech payload, and the average duration of such missions exceeds 10 hours.
According to the company’s current estimates, the serial Raybird with an internal combustion engine provides more than 28 hours in the air. At the same time, the hybrid version, as of January 2026, has a flight duration of about 12 hours, and the team is working to increase the figure to 20 hours. Additional characteristics of the hybrid modification include almost no thermal footprint, lower noise levels compared to the internal combustion engine version, and a higher operating altitude range. Both versions, according to the manufacturer, can operate in a temperature range from -35 to +55 °C.
Skyeton positions the hybrid Raybird as a ready-made self-sufficient solution for the customer. The company also emphasizes that the «hydrogen» version, in addition to defense applications, has potential for civilian tasks due to its efficiency and environmental benefits.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how Ukrainian manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems Skyeton integrates military sensor technologies from the French company Harmattan AI into its Raybird tactical drones.
