Spain’s Ministry of Defence has contracted US drone manufacturer Skydio to supply the Spanish Armed Forces with autonomous small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) technology.
The contract, valued at up to €18m ($18.83), will see Skydio partnering with Spanish distributor Paukner Group to deliver its X10D drones.
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The Spanish Army plans to use the X10D for various missions, including force protection, reconnaissance, facility security, crowd control, target acquisition, and command post support.
Skydio CEO and co-founder Adam Bry said: “We’re honoured to support the Spanish Armed Forces with Skydio’s most advanced drone platform. This win is a reflection of the growing importance of small drones on the modern battlefield.
“X10D – with onboard AI, autonomy, and powerful sensors – is resilient in contested environments, making it the ideal choice for Spain’s Armed Forces human-machine teaming missions.”
Skydio commenced distribution of X10D to customers in 2024 and the company has shipped more than 45,000 drones to date.
The sUAS is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance applications, with onboard AI capabilities enhancing human-machine collaboration.
It is equipped with sensor technology, autonomous navigation, and a modular, open architecture designed to meet the requirements of military operations and maintain resilience against electronic warfare.
Additionally, the Skydio X10D provides rapid deployment at scale.
It features VT300-Z sensor package whose telephoto camera is capable of detecting objects, vehicles, and humans upon their appearance in the field of view.
Over the last five years, Skydio drones have been adopted by every branch of the US Department of Defense, as well as the military forces of 25 allied nations.
The Skydio X10D is said to be the first sUAS to integrate a Teledyne FLIR Boson+ sensor, offering thermal imaging quality.
The drone also serves dual-use purposes, catering to the needs of more than 2,500 commercial and public organisations daily.
This development follows the Spanish Ministry of Defence’s recent progress in the High-Performance Tactical Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (SIRTAP) programme.
The escalation of hostilities in Ukraine alongside the expansion of Spain’s indigenous defence sector are key contributors to the surge in the Spanish defence market.
Projected at $13.6bn for the year 2024, Spain’s military expenditure is anticipated to experience a compound annual growth rate exceeding 10% from 2025 to 2029, according to GlobalData.
