Exclusive: U.K.-Ukraine duo beats Americans at their own drone game
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
U.K.-Ukraine team, Skycutter, won the U.S.'s Gauntlet I drone competition, securing a contract for 2,500+ drones.
How This Affects You
The Defense Department's Drone Dominance program aims to arm American troops with expendable drones.
AI Summary
Skycutter, a small British company with frontline Ukrainian experience and a manufacturing footprint in Atlanta, won the U.S.'s killer-drone competition, Gauntlet I, in February, scoring 99.3 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Skycutter's Shrike 10-F drone, developed in collaboration with Ukrainian outfit SkyFall, beat Neros, a California startup, which scored 87.5. Vincent Gardner, Skycutter's operations director, stated they "aced every mission profile" with their redesigned drone, which excludes Chinese parts or components. Skycutter is now on contract for more than 2,500 drones and plans to expand its U.S. manufacturing. The competition is part of the Defense Department's Drone Dominance push to arm American troops with expendable drones.
What's Being Done
Skycutter is on contract for over 2,500 drones and plans to expand U.S. manufacturing.
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