U.S. Boosts Ukraine’s Drone Arsenal with 33,000 AI-Controlled Modules
The U.S. Department of Defense has approved a $50 million contract to provide Ukraine with 33,000 advanced AI drone guidance modules to boost Kyiv’s warfare capabilities.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Financial Times.
The systems, known as Skynode S modules, are produced by U.S.-German software company Auterion.
CEO Lorenz Meier confirmed to the Financial Times that deliveries will be completed by the end of 2025, representing a tenfold increase compared to previous shipments.
“These are unprecedented volumes,” Meier stated. “We’ve already shipped thousands, and now we’re scaling up to tens of thousands.”
The Skynode S is a compact onboard computer that converts manually piloted drones into fully autonomous platforms.
Equipped with advanced AI algorithms, cameras, and radio modules, the system can detect, track, and pursue moving targets at distances of up to one kilometer, even in heavily jammed electromagnetic environments.
According to Auterion, the AI software enables drones to operate independently in GPS- or communications-denied areas, offering object recognition and real-time target tracking.
The deployment of 33,000 AI modules could allow Ukrainian forces to intercept between 23,000 and 26,000 enemy drones, assuming a conservative success rate of 70–80%.
At 90% efficiency, the number could exceed 29,000 intercepted drones, significantly reducing Russia’s capacity for long-range drone strikes, particularly those supplied by Iran.
Another key feature of the Skynode S is its ability to coordinate drone swarms, enabling simultaneous strikes and complex battlefield maneuvers.
Meier emphasized that Auterion’s technology is designed to complement, not replace, Ukraine’s fast-growing domestic drone industry.
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