Norwegian Military Adopts Small Drones From Skydio
Skydio has received a contract to deliver its proprietary small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Valued at 101 million Norwegian kroner ($9.8 million), the deal covers an unspecified amount of the California-based company’s X10D systems, built according to US military standards.
Distribution of the 31-inch (79-centimeter) long drones has already started in cooperation with Kristiansand distributor Oskar Pedersen, Skydio said.
Upon fielding, the fleet is expected to deliver critical support to warfighters, as the systems are built with ruggedized structures and certified for cold-weather operations down to -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit), making them mission-ready for harsh environments like the Arctic.
Each X10D is equipped with a high-performance sensor suite, including a 48- to 64-megapixel camera and a Teledyne FLIR thermal device, to sharpen airborne intelligence for faster, smarter decisions.
It launches in under 40 seconds, reaches speeds of 45 miles (72 kilometers) per hour, hovers for up to 40 minutes, and maintains control and data links in contested environments through an electronic warfare feature.
“Norway has been at the forefront of adopting advanced technology for defense, and we’re proud to support their armed forces with our X10D platform,” Skydio CEO and Co-Founder Adam Bry stated.
“X10D is the small UAS of choice for western militaries, with onboard AI, autonomy, powerful sensors and survivability in contested environments.”
