4 March 2026
Ukrainian Raybird drones have been equipped with a new payload — sensors for detecting radiation.
As representatives of the manufacturer Skyeton told Militarnyi in a comment, the sensor itself was developed by another company, and the Ukrainian enterprise integrated it into the platform for the needs of the State Emergency Service.
The new payload provides real-time monitoring of gamma radiation with data transmission to a ground control station.
The radiation detection module is installed inside the UAV’s fuselage, which has made it possible to maintain aerodynamic balance, structural protection, and operational stability during long missions.
The sensor is fully integrated into the aircraft’s onboard systems and the ground control station interface, allowing operators to receive real-time radiation level information along with standard flight telemetry
Ukrainian reconnaissance UAV Raybird. Photo credits: Skyeton
The system has been tested in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and has proven its operational stability and measurement accuracy.
In addition to responding to emergencies, the radiation monitoring configuration can be used for accident cleanup, industrial safety control, infrastructure inspection, and environmental assessment.
Raybird
Raybird is a small tactical unmanned aerial vehicle designed for long-duration ISR and ISTAR missions.
Key characteristics (internal combustion engine version):
- Flight duration: 28+ hours;
- Maximum flight range: 2500+ km;
- Maximum flight altitude (operating ceiling): 5,500 m;
- Communication channel range: 220+ km, or unlimited with SATCOM integration;
- Engine type: four-stroke fuel-injected gasoline engine;
- Operating temperature: -35°C to +55°C;
- System deployment time: up to 25 minutes.
Raybird supports a wide range of variable payloads, including multi-sensor EO/IR gyro-stabilized modules, SAR systems, radio frequency locators, and specialized sensors, such as a radiation monitoring module.
Maybe they can modify this system to detect radars. This would prove usefull do destroy more roach air defense systems.