Raybird UAV. Image: Skyeton Press Office
Ukrainian aviation holding Skyeton has successfully integrated a radiation sensor payload into its Raybird Unmanned Aviation System (UAS) to support environmental monitoring and emergency response missions.
The integration combines the long-endurance performance of the Raybird platform with advanced sensing capabilities, enabling real-time aerial detection and data transmission over extended distances. To maintain aerodynamic balance and ensure structural protection during long-duration flights, the gamma radiation detection module is housed directly inside the UAV’s fuselage. The system has undergone rigorous testing in the Chornobyl exclusion zone, validating its measurement accuracy and operational stability in high-risk settings.
In 2025, Skyeton delivered the first radiation sensor-equipped system to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The platform is now on full operational duty, where it strengthens national emergency response through continuous monitoring tasks.
Roman Knyazhenko, CEO of Skyeton, stated, “Raybird has demonstrated its reliability in the most hostile conditions. We rely on it to help make our home safer, and the integration of radiation monitoring capabilities was driven by that very need. Today, it is part of the national emergency response system.”
The sensor module is fully synchronized with the aircraft’s onboard systems and ground control interface. This allows operators to monitor live radiation data alongside standard flight telemetry. During testing, the system proved capable of conducting wide-area reconnaissance, performing targeted hotspot detection, and maintaining stable data links throughout long-duration missions in varying temperatures.
As a small tactical unmanned aviation system designed for ISR and ISTAR missions, the Raybird features a flight endurance of over 28 hours and a maximum range of 2,500 km. It operates at a ceiling of 5,500 meters and is powered by an EFI four-stroke gasoline engine. While the system is combat-proven with over 350,000 accumulated flight hours, this specific radiation monitoring configuration is intended for disaster management, industrial safety oversight, and infrastructure inspection.
The Raybird platform supports a variety of interchangeable payloads, including multisensor EO/IR gimbals, SAR systems, and radio frequency locators. This modularity allows the UAS to evolve for specialized missions while preserving its core operational advantages of reliability and rapid deployment, which can be achieved in under 25 minutes.
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