Blue sUAS manufacturer Skydio to supply short-range recon drones to the US Army

The X2D drone from manufacturer Skydio was one of six SRR prototypes the military evaluated against its requirements.

The US Army selected two systems to undergo a limited user test at the Army Test and Evaluation Command, after a competitive downselect, reports Defense News.

โ€œBased on data from this [limited user test] event, and previous milestone evaluations, the Army selected the Skydio system to remain in the prototyping phase,โ€ an Army spokesman said.

The Army will now conduct the follow-on evaluation of its final prototype, which is expected to begin in early April.

The Army’s program office for unmanned aircraft systems will request permission from the Program Executive Office Aviation to start production with the Skydio system for the first tranche of systems after successful completion of the evaluation.

โ€œThe selection of the U.S. Army’s short-range reconnaissance provider for tranche 1 is a significant milestone for the Army, our strategic partners, and the domestic industrial base. The future for our Soldiers is now,โ€ said Col.Joseph Anderson, Project Manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. โ€œThe relationships we have formed with industry demonstrate our commitment to compete and our ability to lead and innovate advanced technology in unmanned systems.โ€

The army spokesperson continued to say that if the Skydio drone is approved, the service will begin fielding within 90 days.

Blue sUAS manufacturer Skydio

โ€œThis is an exciting milestone for Skydio, the Army, and most importantly the men and women who serve our country. For drones under 20 pounds, civilian has raced ahead of traditional defense systems. With the SRR program, our Soldiers will now have access to the most advanced capabilities in the world in this class,” said Skydio CEO, Adam Bry in a statement. “Skydio drones deliver unparalleled situational awareness and ease of use in the most demanding situations thanks to Skydio Autonomy. We are proud to work with the Army and look forward to fielding these units while continuing to pioneer the capabilities that provide our troops with the real-time data needed to successfully and safely complete their missions.โ€

The Skydio X2D has FLIR thermal sensor and GPS-based night flight capability, as well as strobe lights. It can fly for up to 35 minutes on a single battery, according to the manufacturer.

Blue Suas Manufacturer Skydio

The ‘s Defense Innovation Unit in August 2020 designated five American-made drone firms as trusted small UAS suppliers. , , Skydio, , and are the Blue sUAS drone makers that were selected.

The drones that the Pentagon can procure through this initiative must be ready in two minutes or less, have a flight duration of more than 30 minutes, and can fly through dust, rain, and in other harsh conditions.

Blue Suas Manufacturer Skydio To Supply Short-Range Recon Drones To The Us Army 1

What do you think about Blue sUAS manufacture of Skydio and the drone that they are going to supply the with? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below as we are curious to hear what you have to say.

Get your Part 107 Certificate

Pass the test and take to the skies with the Pilot Institute. We have helped thousands of people become airplane and commercial drone pilots. Our courses are designed by industry experts to help you pass tests and achieve your dreams.

FTC: DroneXL.co uses affiliate links that generate income.* We do not sell, share, rent out or spam your email, ever. Our email goes out on weekdays around 5:30 p.m.

Stay in touch!

If you’d like to stay up to date with all the latest drone news, scoops, rumors, and reviews follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or… Subscribe to our Daily Drone News email.*


Discover more from DroneXL.co

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

Proposed legislation threatens your ability to use drones for fun, work, and safety. The Drone Advocacy Alliance is fighting to ensure your voice is heard in these critical policy discussions.Join us and tell your elected officials to protect your right to fly.

Drone Advocacy Alliance
TAKE ACTION NOW
Follow us on Google News!

Get your Part 107 Certificate

Pass the Part 107 test and take to the skies with the Pilot Institute. We have helped thousands of people become airplane and commercial drone pilots. Our courses are designed by industry experts to help you pass FAA tests and achieve your dreams.

pilot institute dronexl

Copyright ยฉ DroneXL.co 2025. All rights reserved. The content, images, and intellectual property on this website are protected by copyright law. Reproduction or distribution of any material without prior written permission from DroneXL.co is strictly prohibited. For permissions and inquiries, please contact us first. DroneXL.co is a proud partner of the Drone Advocacy Alliance. Be sure to check out DroneXL's sister site, EVXL.co, for all the latest news on electric vehicles.

FTC: DroneXL.co is an Amazon Associate and uses affiliate links that can generate income from qualifying purchases. We do not sell, share, rent out, or spam your email.

Haye Kesteloo
Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is a leading drone industry expert and Editor in Chief of DroneXL.co and EVXL.co, where he covers drone technology, industry developments, and electric mobility trends. With over nine years of specialized coverage in unmanned aerial systems, his insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, and cited by The Brookings Institute, Foreign Policy, Politico and others.

Before founding DroneXL.co, Kesteloo built his expertise at DroneDJ. He currently co-hosts the PiXL Drone Show on YouTube and podcast platforms, sharing industry insights with a global audience. His reporting has influenced policy discussions and been referenced in federal documents, establishing him as an authoritative voice in drone technology and regulation. He can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.

Articles: 4970

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.