Canada to Hand Over 450 SkyRanger Drones to Ukraine This Summer

Canada will start handing over 450 SkyRanger multi-purpose unmanned aerial systems to Ukraine this summer. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported on this. According to the ministry, at an extraordinary meeting of the steering group of the Drone Coalition, Ukraine informed its partners 'about the situation on the battlefield and the urgent needs to repel enemy attacks.'

It was decided that Canada will start transferring 450 SkyRanger multi-purpose unmanned aerial systems in the summer. Back in February of this year, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced that the country would transfer 800 SkyRanger R70 unmanned aerial systems.

SkyRanger R70 reconnaissance drone with EO IR Mk II optical sensor. Photo credits: Teledyne FLIR

The transfer of drones is funded by £500 million in military aid to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this assistance during his visit to Kyiv in June 2023. The SkyRanger R70 is a multi-purpose unmanned aerial system developed by Teledyne FLIR. It includes multi-rotor vertical takeoff and landing drones that can perform reconnaissance and logistics functions.

The drones are equipped with an autonomous navigation system, which allows the drone to operate under manual or autonomous control without being tied to satellite signals.

SkyRanger R70 reconnaissance drone. Photo credits: Teledyne FLIR

The manufacturer claims that the onboard computer is capable of automatically capturing targets at a distance of up to 5 km and identifying up to 10 moving objects simultaneously.

The SkyRanger R70 drones are equipped with a carbon fiber and magnesium frame.

They can operate at altitudes up to 4,500 meters above sea level and withstand sustained winds of 65 km/h and gusts of up to 90 km/h.

They are capable of carrying a payload of up to 3.5 kg, which makes it possible to use the unmanned platform, in addition to reconnaissance, as a means of delivering cargo or dropping ammunition.