How European firms allegedly copied Ukraine’s battle-tested drones—according to Skyeton

How European firms allegedly copied Ukraine’s battle-tested drones

The CEO of top Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton has accused unnamed European companies of stealing technical secrets and falsely claiming combat-tested experience to win lucrative government contracts. In an interview with The Telegraph, Roman Knyazhenko alleged that certain European firms posed as potential collaborators, only to copy Skyeton’s designs and language from internal materials.

“Sometimes I open presentations of other aircraft from Europe, and I see literally my own words, without any change,” he said.

Skyeton’s Raybird drone, which has logged over 350,000 combat hours, has been a key asset in Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression. Knyazhenko warned that European governments risk wasting billions by backing inexperienced startups over proven systems built under real battlefield conditions.

Combat-tested vs. marketing hype

Knyazhenko said some foreign companies flew drones only in rear areas like Lviv but still labeled them as “combat tested” to boost credibility and secure funding. This deceptive marketing, he warned, is undermining Ukraine’s defence and misallocating critical resources.

“They’re investing in technology that’s actually fake. In the end, you will have nothing,” he said.

While he did not name the firms involved, the allegations echo long-standing frustrations in Kyiv about how Western defence procurement often favours domestic contractors regardless of frontline effectiveness.

Raybird drones: Built for war, not demos

Skyeton, which originally produced ultralight aircraft, has rapidly adapted to war needs. Knyazhenko said about half the Raybird’s components have been replaced in recent years to enhance stealth and endurance. The drone can now fly 2,500 kilometres and remain airborne for up to 28 hours, with multiple payload options.

Unlike slow-paced development in peacetime, upgrades must be made overnight, he said. “If you do not do it in one night, tomorrow the enemy will try and approach us and we will not have aircraft in the air, so we will have casualties.”

Supply chain problems and legal gridlock

Skyeton has also faced problems sourcing quality foreign parts. In one case, a shipment of gimbal cameras arrived with 50% failing quality checks. Logs showed the defects occurred before shipping, but the supplier denied fault—and legal recourse would take years.

“Every day of delay will cost us millions,” said Knyazhenko, stressing that Ukrainian brigades rely on immediate support from drone manufacturers.

Ukraine leads, the West lags

Knyazhenko emphasized that Ukraine’s edge in drone warfare lies in constant battlefield adaptation, with engineers redesigning systems in real time. “Three years here feels like 20 years in peacetime,” he said. He also dismissed the idea that foreign firms could simply visit Ukrainian facilities and replicate the technology.

“It’s the same story as building a BMW from scratch. It takes years.”

Former Biden administration officials Jon Finer and David Shimer recently wrote in Foreign Affairs that most countries now trail Ukraine in UAV innovation. Knyazhenko urged Western allies to fund Ukrainian production abroad, rather than reinventing the wheel with unproven domestic ventures.

“Support the factories that are already saving lives,” he said.