Role & capabilities
- Visual and thermal imaging
- Obstacle avoidance
- Vision-assisted navigation
- Primary domain
- Air
- System type
- Reconnaissance aircraft
- Developer / manufacturer
- Skydio
- Origin / production countries
- United States
- Other names
- No additional names recorded
- Variants / configurations
- Connect SL; Connect MH
- Operators / programme customers
- US Army — SRR Tranche 2 deliveries reported by supplier
Evidence & current status
The cited order or production decision is distinct from delivery, operational acceptance and the eventual fleet size.
Small reconnaissance role
Skydio X10D is a portable multirotor marketed for defence and national-security observation. Its proposition combines a compact airframe, visual and thermal cameras, and onboard processing that assists flight and data collection. It belongs to the small reconnaissance segment, where transportability and ease of use are central considerations alongside image quality and endurance.
Skydio describes surrounding navigation cameras, obstacle avoidance and optional NightSense equipment for navigation in darkness. These are manufacturer capability descriptions, not a guarantee that obstacles, poor visibility or communications disruption cannot affect a flight. A listed autonomy feature should be distinguished from independently verified performance in a particular environment.
Configuration and published specifications
The specification distinguishes Connect SL and Connect MH aircraft, with different published masses. The table preserves these configuration names.
Skydio lists separate flight and hover durations, and qualifies radio ranges by line of sight and absence of interference. These are distinct performance cases. For comparisons, headline maxima need to be accompanied by their assumptions; they are not promises for every weather condition or equipment fit.
The main product description identifies visible and thermal imaging and a modular attachment arrangement. The existence of an attachment interface does not establish that every accessory or software feature is included in a customer's contract.
Procurement evidence
Skydio's announcement of 5 May 2025 says it delivered the first X10D systems under the US Army's Short Range Reconnaissance Tranche 2 programme. This is a supplier-reported delivery milestone, which is stronger evidence of shipment than a selection announcement but is still attributed to the manufacturer.
On 22 March 2026 Skydio announced a separate US Army order exceeding $52 million for more than 2,500 X10D aircraft. The release establishes the reported order, not completion of every subsequent delivery. Dividing its headline value by the aircraft total would not produce a reliable standalone drone price without knowing the package of equipment, support and services included.
Limits of this profile
Skydio's support library publishes multiple X10D INTL manuals tied to software releases. Model name, regional configuration and software version therefore deserve attention when comparing features. Specifications for other X10-branded products should not automatically be substituted into this profile.
The reviewed public sources do not establish one standard delivered equipment package or an independent comparative measure of contested-environment performance. The useful starting point is the named configuration, documented supplier claims and clearly separated order and delivery evidence.
Catalogue scope
The detailed source review below remains the baseline. This catalogue update adds consistent identification and comparison fields without replacing configuration-specific facts or treating an undisclosed value as zero.
Sourced specifications
Figures apply to the named configuration. Maximum values are not guaranteed operating performance.
| Specification | Reported value | Context & source |
|---|---|---|
| Airframe | Electric multirotor | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Launch / recovery | Vertical take-off and landing | Broad configuration described in the linked manufacturer programme source. Source ↗ |
| Propulsion | Electric motors | Broad configuration described in the linked manufacturer programme source. Source ↗ |
| Dimensions | Folded dimensions without battery: 35.05 × 16.51 × 11.94 cm | Configuration-specific figures retained from the reviewed reference profile. Source ↗ |
| Mass | Maximum take-off mass: 2.49 kg | Configuration-specific figures retained from the reviewed reference profile. Source ↗ |
| Endurance | Maximum flight duration: 40 minutes | Configuration-specific figures retained from the reviewed reference profile. Source ↗ |
| Range | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source ↗ |
| Speed | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source ↗ |
| Altitude | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source ↗ |
| Payload | Not established from the reviewed sources. | Public data gap; no estimate substituted. Follow the source for subsequent releases. Source ↗ |
| Sensors | Visual and thermal sensor options | Published supplier specification; configuration and conditions affect performance. Source ↗ |
| Communications / navigation | Connect SL / Connect MH configuration-specific datalinks | Broad configuration described in the linked manufacturer programme source. Source ↗ |
| Aircraft mass including battery | 2.11 kg (Connect SL); 2.14 kg (Connect MH) | Published configuration-dependent mass. Source ↗ |
| Maximum take-off mass | 2.49 kg | Manufacturer design limit; not added payload capacity. Source ↗ |
| Maximum flight duration | 40 minutes | Published maximum; actual conditions and attachments vary. Source ↗ |
| Maximum hover duration | 35 minutes | Separate hover case; not interchangeable with flight endurance. Source ↗ |
| Airframe ingress rating | IP55 | Aircraft rating; controller specification is separate. Source ↗ |
| Folded dimensions without battery | 35.05 × 16.51 × 11.94 cm | Folded transport configuration, battery excluded. Source ↗ |
Documented milestones
Skydio announces further US Army order
Manufacturer reports more than 2,500 X10D aircraft in an order exceeding $52 million; order and completed delivery remain distinct.
Read the announcement ↗Skydio announces initial SRR Tranche 2 deliveries
Supplier publication confirms its first order was fulfilled; it does not establish delivery of all future programme requirements.
Read the announcement ↗
Publication history
- — Expanded catalogue profile with sourced specifications, variant distinctions, programme evidence and explicit public data gaps.
- — Expanded profile with attributed specifications, programme history and evidence limitations.
Suggest a correction to this entry →
Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.
- Skydio — X10D product description (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme source
- Skydio — X10D technical specification (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer specification
- Skydio — first SRR Tranche 2 deliveries, 5 May 2025 (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer delivery announcement
- Skydio — US Army order announcement, 22 March 2026 (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer order announcement
- Skydio support — X10D manuals and versioned resources (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer support documentation