The startup Skyassist, founded in March 2022, has created a serial reconnaissance drone Sirko and is preparing four more products, mentions odessa-journal.com

"First the most urgent needs of the front were determined. We decided that aerial reconnaissance would help save the lives of our soldiers and locate the enemy no matter where they were hiding. Based on this, a terms of reference was drawn up. We had to develop an undetectable (radio transparent) UAV (drone) with minimal size and easy to use. It should conduct aerial reconnaissance and adjust fire at a depth of up to 25-30 km. At the same time, the price of the product should be the lowest in its class.", said co-founder Igor Krinichko to vctr.media.

He added that the aircraft flies over enemy positions in complete radio silence, without radiation. During the mission, a video recording is made of everything the drone "sees".
The third version of the Sirko UAV entered in a mass production.

With the following characteristics:

  • Wingspan - 0.9 m.
  • Weight – 1.5 kg.
  • Working height - 200 - 300m.
  • Flight duration – 50 – 70 min.
  • The length of the route is up to 100 km.
  • Video communication with the operator - up to 30 km.
  • Temperature regime - from -20 degrees C to +45 degrees C.

"Sirko can fly up to 1000-1200 km. But we chose a workable high: 200 – 300 meters. This is possible thanks to the minimal size of the UAV. Working at this height allows you to use lighter optics while maintaining quality. In addition, thanks to it, it became possible to work during heavy cloud cover. The device flies below the clouds, maintaining stealth," says the developer.

Among other advantages of the drone, the developers call low noise - thanks to the electric motor, the drone is almost inaudible at operating height, radio invisibility - the drone is 90% made of polymer radio-transparent materials, video link for 25 km. , silent mode – can conduct reconnaissance without radiation.

The drone costs $3,000, and with a ground station, $4,000. They have invested in the project their own money and with friends from the USA, Estonia, Ukraine, etc. The total amount of the investment is about 5 million UAH.

Skyassist is currently focused on completing the test documentation in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The company is considering the possibility of attracting investment for large-scale production. The most significant additional funding is needed for the import of electronic components.

To fulfill the plan of 400 drones, they will need at least $400,000. The company will finance part of it itself. However, raising approximately $200,000 will greatly speed up production by bulk purchasing components.

Four more products are currently under development:

  • Invisible communication device - Potai;
  • microUAV for special missions - Bee;
  • UAV interceptor - Faino;
  • strike drone.

The company is not yet ready to reveal details about them.