Skydio has secured a $7.9-million contract from the US Army to supply its X10D Recon Drones small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) as part of the Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Tranche 2 program. The order includes drone deliveries, training, and support for tactical reconnaissance operations near the front lines.
This latest award follows Skydio’s participation in SRR Tranche 1 and advances the Army’s push to deploy agile, easy-to-operate drones at the squad level. All X10D units will be designed, built, and supported in the United States, with production centered at the company’s California facility.
The X10D platform combines VTOL capability and autonomous flight control, allowing soldiers to perform rapid terrain scans, target detection, and intelligence relay. Its 48MP telephoto camera, Boson+ thermal sensor, and AI-powered obstacle avoidance ensure effective operation even under GPS-denied or jammed conditions.
Built on a modular open framework, the system allows payload customization and secure data handling through hardware-level encryption.
The SRR program represents the Army’s multi-phase plan to procure short-range reconnaissance drones that fill the gap between micro and medium-range UAVs. Tranche 2 focuses on scaling production and refining field capabilities, with additional contracts awarded to Red Cat and others for support, sustainment, and C2 integration.
