Ukrainian Drone Pioneer Warns of European Firms Faking Combat Tests and Pilfering Tech Secrets

Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton’s CEO, Roman Knyazhenko, has leveled serious accusations against some European defense companies, claiming they fabricate battlefield credentials and attempt to steal proprietary technologies from firms like his. This revelation highlights vulnerabilities in the global drone industry amid ongoing conflicts, potentially diverting critical funds from effective systems.

Battlefield-Proven vs. Simulated Claims

Skyeton produces the Raybird drone, a long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that has logged over 350,000 combat flight hours for the Ukrainian army. The system flies missions up to 28 hours long, covering distances of 1,553 miles (2,500 km), and carries payloads like reconnaissance cameras and radio frequency locators. The Telegraph reports that, Knyazhenko asserts that certain European makers visit Ukrainian firms under the guise of collaboration, only to probe for operational secrets.

“Many European drone makers are doing a fantastic job, and we work with a number of them,” Mr Knyazhenko said. “But others are promising a lot just to talk with you more, to find out what secrets you have, and then they’re disappearing.”

He describes how these companies conduct minimal flights in safe areas, such as Lviv—over 621 miles (1,000 km) from the front line—and then market their products as combat-tested. This deception, Knyazhenko warns, leads governments to pour billions into ineffective technologies.

“The big problem, after that, is that billions of dollars go to the companies that still don’t have any idea what they’re doing,” he said. Such investments not only fail to deliver reliable drones but also undermine support for Ukraine and weaken national defenses elsewhere.

Rapid Adaptations in Wartime Drone Development

The Raybird’s evolution underscores the intense demands of modern drone warfare. Skyeton’s team of 500 employees collaborates closely with the military, implementing hundreds of engineering changes annually. Around half of the drone’s materials have changed in the past three years to reduce radar visibility. Endurance matters greatly; the UAV must launch from muddy fields or even puddles and be airborne in minutes.

“We can sometimes help destroy, in one flight, equipment worth billions,” Mr Knyazhenko said. Repairs happen overnight to avoid brigade vulnerabilities. “Just imagine the situation when the crew comes in and something’s broken in the system,” he explained. “It means that right now, while they’re here, the brigade doesn’t have this equipment that supports them.”

This development raises questions about supply chain reliability. Skyeton now produces more components in-house after receiving faulty gimbaled cameras—half non-functional upon arrival, despite factory tests showing issues. Delays cost millions under strict government contracts, yet pursuing legal remedies could take five or six years.

“Everybody’s just doing like this and, in the end, you don’t have time to deal with it, and you’re just trying to go ahead and forget about it,” Mr Knyazhenko said.

Building on that, the company has refined launch mechanisms, shortening the slide and enhancing the elastic sling for quicker deployments in adverse weather.

Global Implications for Drone Innovation and Exports

Knyazhenko argues that many overlook the complexities of UAV production, equating it wrongly to simple replication.

“To make a BMW from nothing in one year, it’s impossible,” he said. “You will spend 10, 15, 20 years developing and making it until, at last, you will be very close to BMW, right? It’s the same story here.”

Ukraine’s drone expertise, accelerated by conflict, positions it ahead globally. A Foreign Affairs article echoes this, noting that most countries, including the U.S., lag in drone combat experience. Knyazhenko urges Western nations to fund Ukrainian factories on their soil rather than unproven startups, likening it to exporting F-16 jets instead of rebuilding them anew.

Real-world missions illustrate the stakes. In one Black Sea rescue, a Raybird located lost sailors at night, using wing lights to guide them home.

“From one side, everything looks perfect for us. But it was like hell, a night of hell,” Mr Knyazhenko said. Saving lives, he emphasizes, evokes a unique sense of purpose.

This controversy spotlights ethical challenges in the drone sector, where technical prowess can mean operational efficiencies or costly failures. As conflicts drive innovation, verified battlefield performance remains vital for professionals relying on these systems for reconnaissance, targeting, and survival. Skyeton’s story serves as a caution for the international community, pushing for transparent collaborations that advance reliable UAV technologies without shortcuts.

Photos courtesy of Skyeton.