Raybird UAS is Skyeton's Ukrainian fixed-wing tactical drone family, known in military service as ACS-3. Official Ukrainian and manufacturer sources describe it as a long-endurance reconnaissance, target-designation, radio-frequency intelligence, and precision fire-control platform with interchangeable payloads, 28+ hours of endurance, and more than 350,000 combat flight hours in Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine says Raybird, known in military service as ACS-3, is used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine for reconnaissance, target designation, and combat missions; Skyeton says the system has logged 350,000+ combat flight hours in Ukraine and has been delivered to the Armed Forces since 2019.
Role detailsSkyeton presents Raybird as a multipurpose tactical UAS rather than a single-role scout. Its published applications and payload options cover battlefield reconnaissance, target work, relay duties, and civil surveillance tasks.
| Application | Published detail |
|---|---|
| Deep reconnaissance | Listed as a core application on Skyeton's Raybird page. |
| Targeting and precision fire control | Skyeton says Raybird transmits target coordinates in real time and integrates with HIMARS, Krab, and Caesar. |
| Radio frequency intelligence | Skyeton says the RF Locator module detects enemy emitters such as air defense systems, EW units, radars, and communications, with effective triangulation at distances over 25 km. |
| SAR surveillance | Skyeton lists a SAR payload with imaging range up to 20 km and moving-target detection up to 15 km. |
| Data link extension | Skyeton says Raybird can act as a relay and extend the data link by 50-80 km. |
| Swappable payloads | The Ministry of Defence says payloads can be exchanged in one minute, including laser-designator gimbals, high-resolution cameras, SAR systems, loitering munitions, and FPV drones. |
Sources: Skyeton Raybird page; Ukrainian MoD Raybird article.
Raybird is Skyeton's public product name, while Ukrainian military and official sources also use the ACS-3 designation for the same fixed-wing UAS family and its upgraded configurations.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raybird laser-designator configuration | Precision-guided-munition designation payload | The Ukrainian MoD describes one recent Raybird version as integrating a laser guidance system for precision-guided munitions, with combat-proven effectiveness and a safe standoff distance for the host UAV. Sources: Ukrainian MoD Raybird article |
Skyeton describes Raybird as a target-coordinate and fire-control node that can work with several cataloged Ukrainian-service artillery and rocket systems.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Rocket artillery system | Skyeton says Raybird transmits target coordinates in real time and integrates with systems such as HIMARS for precision fire-control work. Sources: Skyeton Raybird page |
 | 155 mm self-propelled howitzer | Skyeton lists Krab among the systems that Raybird can integrate with while transmitting target coordinates in real time. Sources: Skyeton Raybird page |
 | 155 mm truck-mounted howitzer | Skyeton lists Caesar among the systems that Raybird can integrate with while supporting targeting and precision fire-control missions. Sources: Skyeton Raybird page |
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine says the baseline Raybird model was developed in 2016.
Sources: Ukrainian MoD Raybird article
Skyeton says Raybird passed state testing under a contract with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and entered service that year.
Sources: Skyeton about Raybird page, Ukrainian MoD Raybird article
Skyeton says Raybird logged a 24.5-hour flight in 2019, setting a Ukrainian UAV record.
Sources: Skyeton about Raybird page
Skyeton describes Raybird as one of the key long-range reconnaissance UAVs used by Ukrainian forces.
Sources: Skyeton about Raybird page
