Skydio X10D
About
About Skydio X10D
X10D adapts Skydio X10’s autonomous flight and modular sensing for defence operation without a required cloud connection. Six navigation cameras and NVIDIA Jetson Orin compute support obstacle avoidance and vision-based return when GNSS is degraded, while NightSense extends autonomous navigation into darkness.
Sensor options combine high-resolution visual, telephoto and radiometric thermal imaging. Multiband communications, dynamic link selection and integration with third-party controllers support contested field operations, while MAVLink and RAS-A interfaces connect the aircraft to wider defence systems. The IP55 platform launches in under 40 seconds, reaches 45 miles per hour and is Blue UAS cleared.
Capabilities
Source-backed capabilities
- Operating environments: military short-range reconnaissance UAS delivery, defense EOD small-UAS operations, Spanish Armed Forces ISR missions
- Control modes: Operator Supervised Autonomy
- ISR and tactical support
Commercial deployment - 2025-05-05 - Skydio fulfilled the first order under the U.S. Army Short Range Reconnaissance Tranche 2 program, equipping a Transformation in Contact unit with hundreds of X10D aircraft systems. - environment: military short-range reconnaissance UAS delivery
Source - Bomb disposal
Claimed - 2026-05-14 - The U.S. Air Force expanded its Skydio X10D EOD program through a follow-on multi-million-dollar contract. - environment: defense EOD small-UAS operations
Source - ISR and tactical support
Claimed - 2025-02-24 - Collect aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance imagery for military teams. - environment: Spanish Armed Forces ISR missions
Source
Operations
- Order / Commitment
follow-on multi-million-dollar X10D EOD contract - 2026-05-14 - U.S. Air Force - defense EOD small-UAS operations - The U.S. Air Force expanded its Skydio X10D EOD program through a follow-on multi-million-dollar contract.
Source - Order / Commitment
$1.51 billion SHIELD IDIQ vehicle - 2026-01-26 - Missile Defense Agency - defense autonomous systems - Skydio was selected for the Missile Defense Agency SHIELD IDIQ contract vehicle for X10D autonomous systems.
Source - Deliveries
first SRR Tranche 2 systems delivered - 2025-05-05 - United States Army - military short-range reconnaissance UAS delivery - Skydio fulfilled the first order under the U.S. Army Short Range Reconnaissance Tranche 2 program, equipping a Transformation in Contact unit with hundreds of X10D aircraft systems.
Source - Order / Commitment
up to EUR 18 million X10D tender - 2025-02-24 - Spain Ministry of Defence / Spanish Armed Forces - Spain - Spain’s Ministry of Defence selected Skydio X10D autonomous drones for the Spanish Armed Forces under a tender worth up to EUR 18 million.
Source
Supply
Supply / Components
- Skydio X10D VT300-Z telephoto camera
Sony 1/2 Inch 48 Mp Telephoto Cmos Sensor - electronics - Sony Semiconductor Solutions - Sony’s 1/2-inch 48 MP CMOS sensor is installed in the Skydio X10D VT300-Z telephoto camera - source: support.skydio.com
Source - Skydio X10D
Samsung 32mp Cmos Navigation Sensors - sensing - Samsung Electronics - Skydio X10D uses Samsung 32MP CMOS sensors in its six navigation cameras - source: skydio.com
Source - Skydio X10D VT300-Z and VT300-L narrow camera
Sony 64mp Narrow Camera Sensor - Perception - Sony Semiconductor Solutions - Sony 1/1.7-inch 64 MP narrow-camera sensor is integrated in Skydio X10D VT300-Z and VT300-L - source: support.skydio.com
Source - falcon_iv_wraith_communications
Falcon Iv Wraith Communications - Communications - L3Harris Technologies - L3Harris Falcon IV radios and Wraith waveform are integrated into Skydio X10D for anti-jam communications - source: l3harris.com
Source - Skydio X10D VT300-L wide camera
Sony Imx989 Wide Camera Sensor - Perception - Sony Semiconductor Solutions - Sony IMX989 wide-camera sensor is integrated in Skydio X10D VT300-L - source: support.skydio.com
Source - Teledyne FLIR Boson+ thermal sensor
Boson Plus Thermal Sensor For X10d - Perception - Teledyne FLIR - Skydio X10D integrates a Teledyne FLIR Boson+ thermal sensor - source: skydio.com
Source - Skydio X10D
Jetson Orin Soc For X10d - Compute & Control - NVIDIA - Skydio X10D lists NVIDIA Jetson Orin as part of its onboard compute stack - source: skydio.com
Source - Qualcomm QRB5165 SoC
Qrb5165 Soc For X10d - Compute & Control - Qualcomm - Skydio X10D lists Qualcomm QRB5165 as part of its onboard compute stack - source: skydio.com
Source
Research
- Comparative evaluation of unmanned aircraft for Spanish Army cavalry squadrons
2025-01-01 - Research Publication - A comparative military-operations study scores five named UAS platforms against endurance, sensing, deployment, command interoperability, environmental robustness and cost.
Source
Timeline
- Skydio X10D named in £120,000 UK Ministry of Defence tender
2026-10-15 - Market Signal - Bids are due November 19, with clarification questions closing November 18. The planned contract period runs from November 30, 2026 to March 31, 2027. The notice uses an open procedure and identifies suitability for SMEs and voluntary/community enterprises.
Source - Skydio and L3Harris integrate anti-jam communications on X10D
2026-10-15 - Partnership - The integrated radio and waveform provide layered anti-jam protection. More than 150,000 tactical radios in U.S. and allied inventories can host Wraith; this is the radio installed base, not an X10D fleet count. The Wraith Shield waveform adds spectrum scanning, threat detection and counter-drone functions.
Source - Skydio makes ISR Command available for X10D multi-drone missions
2026-10-13 - Product Launch - One operator can manage two X10D aircraft from a single controller, with autonomous observation handoff as batteries run down. Camera-based navigation supports GNSS-denied flight, while TAK and NGC2 connections share target positions, video and telemetry. The system supports STANAG 4609/MISB 0601 and STANAG 0903/MISB 0903 metadata for static and moving targets.
Source - U.S. Air Force expands Skydio X10D EOD program
2026-05-14 - Contract Award - Skydio announced a follow-on multi-million-dollar contract expansion with the U.S. Air Force for X10D systems. The award further equips Explosive Ordnance Disposal units and more than doubles the scope of the initial USAF order announced in November 2025. This adds a current product-level defense procurement milestone for Skydio X10D.
Source - U.S. Army places $52M-plus order for more than 2500 Skydio X10D drones
2026-03-22 - Commercial Order - The U.S. Army placed an order exceeding $52 million for more than 2500 X10D drones, which Skydio described as the largest single-vendor tactical small-UAS order in Army history. The order is specifically tied to the X10D defense platform and moved from bid to award in less than 72 hours, highlighting procurement urgency around deployable tactical drone capability. The order converts Skydio's defense positioning from program access and qualification into major volume procurement at Army scale.
Source - Skydio selected for Missile Defense Agency SHIELD contract vehicle for X10D autonomous systems
2026-01-26 - Contract Award - Skydio was selected for the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD contract vehicle, a multi-vendor IDIQ framework with a ceiling value of up to $151 billion. The selection gives Skydio a route to deliver X10D autonomous systems for national security missions rather than representing a single product sale under one immediate purchase order. The award expands Skydio's access to U.S. defense procurement channels and reinforces X10D's position inside military small-UAS and autonomy programs.
Source - Spain's Ministry of Defence selects Skydio X10D drones in tender worth up to EUR 18 million
2025-02-24 - Commercial Order - Skydio said Spain's Ministry of Defence selected Skydio X10D autonomous drones for the Spanish Armed Forces. The contract is worth up to EUR 18 million. Skydio will supply the drones in partnership with Paukner Group.
Source
Context
Market context
Skydio X10D is a defence-oriented small UAS based on the X10 platform, built around tactical sensing, resilient operations and mission-relevant autonomy.
- Target environment: Defence operational environments including tactical field sites and contested areas.
- Workflow context: Tactical ISR, reconnaissance and field surveillance using autonomous UAV with thermal imaging and onboard autonomy.
- Customer context: Defence customers and military units requiring tactical small UAS capability.
- Deployment model: Defence-grade UAV from a leading U.S. autonomous drone manufacturer.
- Commercial maturity: Active defence UAV platform with procurement pathways and field use.
- Adoption constraints: Defence procurement cycles and mission-specific payload integration requirements.
- Market position: Defence-oriented small UAS based on the X10 platform for tactical sensing and resilient field autonomy.
- Adjacent products: Skydio X10, Black Widow, tactical small UAS
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