Auterion to Deliver 33,000 AI Drone Kits to Ukraine Under $50 Million U.S. Defense Deal

U.S.-based defense tech firm Auterion has signed a major deal with the Pentagon to supply 33,000 artificial intelligence-powered drone guidance kits to Ukraine, strengthening the country’s ability to deploy autonomous drones amid ongoing conflict with Russia.

Valued at $50 million, the contract will provide Ukraine with Skynode kits, compact modules that enable drones to operate autonomously even in electronically jammed environments. These kits integrate camera systems, radios, and Auterion’s AI software to identify, track, and target enemies from up to 1 kilometer away—enhancing the capabilities of First-Person View (FPV) drones commonly used on the frontlines.

Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier stated this deal marks a tenfold increase in the company’s support to Ukraine. The delivery is part of Ukraine’s ambitious plan to produce 4.5 million FPV drones in 2025 as it confronts increasingly sophisticated Russian drone and electronic warfare systems.

Meier emphasized that while Auterion’s kits will assist in battlefield operations, they are designed to support Ukraine’s existing drone ecosystem without competing with local manufacturers. The technology focuses on software-defined warfare, providing reliable, autonomous capabilities in contested airspace.

Although the agreement is separate from broader U.S.-Ukraine drone co-production talks, it comes amid rising interest from NATO countries, particularly Germany, in using such AI systems to coordinate drone swarms and precision strikes.

The deal underscores how the war in Ukraine is becoming a testing ground for next-generation AI-enabled drone warfare, with potential implications for future military operations worldwide. Analysts suggest that the integration of AI modules will give Ukraine a technological edge, improving strike accuracy and reducing operator risk in increasingly hostile airspace.

Auterion’s delivery is expected to begin shortly under Pentagon oversight, with deployment managed by Ukraine’s armed forces.