Royal Navy opens tender for Skydio X10D reconnaissance drones

What's the deal? Britain's Ministry of Defence has opened a tender for Skydio X10D reconnaissance drones for the Royal Navy, with an estimated value of about $160,700 excluding VAT. Bids are due by 19 November 2026 and any resulting contract is set to run until 31 March 2027, according to the tender notice reported on 25 October 2026.

Why it matters: The move marks another European adoption of the X10D, following a contract worth up to €18 million from Spain in February 2025 and an initial Norwegian tender worth about US$12.2M (roughly $9.4 million) in July 2025. A Royal Navy award would cement the X10D's position as a standard small reconnaissance platform for NATO navies as demand for uncrewed aircraft in maritime operations grows.

Read more: The Defence Blog