Skydio, a leading drone manufacturer based in California, has secured a contract worth 101 million Norwegian kroner (approximately $9.8 million) to supply its advanced small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to the Norwegian Armed Forces. The contract involves the delivery of an unspecified number of Skydio’s X10D drones, which are engineered to meet U.S. military-grade standards.
The X10D UAS is equipped with an advanced sensor suite designed to enhance battlefield intelligence and decision-making capabilities. This includes a high-resolution camera ranging from 48 to 64 megapixels and a Teledyne FLIR thermal imaging device, allowing for precise data collection across a wide spectrum of conditions.
Designed for rapid deployment, the drone can be launched in under 40 seconds and can reach flight speeds up to 72 kilometers per hour (45 miles per hour). It offers a maximum flight time of 40 minutes and is built to operate in hostile electromagnetic environments using an integrated electronic warfare-resilient communication system. This ensures consistent control and secure data transmission even in GPS- or signal-denied scenarios.
