Key Points
- The United States Army awarded Skydio a contract exceeding $52 million for more than 2,500 X10D drones, marking its largest single-vendor small UAS procurement
- The X10D system is designed for autonomous reconnaissance in contested environments, supporting efforts to expand domestic drone capability and reduce reliance on foreign-made systems
The United States Army has awarded Skydio a contract exceeding $52 million for more than 2,500 X10D drones, marking the largest small unmanned aircraft system procurement from a single manufacturer in the service’s history.
The order was placed through Atlantic Diving Supply and moved from bid to award in less than 72 hours.
According to the company, the X10D system is designed to deliver intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities at the platoon level. Skydio said the system has been tested in demanding conditions, including operational environments similar to those seen in modern conflicts.
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“This order reflects the decisive role small autonomous systems now play in modern conflict and the Army’s commitment to putting those capabilities in soldiers’ hands,” said Mark Valentine, Global Head of National Security Strategy at Skydio. “It also shows that the United States can deliver world-class drone capability at the scale and speed required by today’s operational environment.”
The X10D drone is designed to operate autonomously, including in environments where GPS signals are degraded or unavailable. The system uses onboard navigation cameras to map terrain in real time, allowing it to maintain flight and complete missions in contested conditions where electronic warfare may disrupt satellite-based navigation.
The platform is equipped with a multiband radio system designed to maintain connectivity in high-interference environments by dynamically selecting optimal frequencies. It also includes high-resolution visual and thermal imaging sensors, enabling operators to conduct surveillance in both day and night conditions while remaining under cover.
In practical terms, systems like the X10D provide small units with organic aerial reconnaissance capability, reducing reliance on higher-level assets and improving response time in dynamic situations. This type of capability has become increasingly important as battlefield environments grow more complex and distributed.
Skydio said the X10D is manufactured at its facility in Hayward, California, where each unit undergoes assembly and testing across hundreds of checkpoints before delivery. The company said the facility has scaled production to support large orders while maintaining reliability standards required by military customers.
The contract builds on Skydio’s position within the Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) program, where the company was selected in both 2022 and 2025. According to the company, it is the only manufacturer to span both procurement phases under the program.
The Army banned the use of drones made by Chinese manufacturer DJI in 2017, citing security concerns, and has since sought to field alternatives produced by domestic or allied suppliers. Systems like the X10D are intended to meet those requirements while providing comparable or expanded capabilities.
More broadly, the order reflects a shift toward rapid acquisition processes for technologies considered critical to current operational needs. The less-than-72-hour timeline from bid to award underscores efforts to streamline procurement and deliver equipment to troops faster.