• The U.S. has awarded a $50 million Pentagon contract to U.S.?German defense software company Auterion to deliver 33,000 AI?powered "strike kits" ("Skynode" systems) to Ukraine by the end of 2025.

• These strike kits convert manually operated drones into more autonomous platforms: they include onboard computers, cameras and radio modules, are designed to resist electronic jamming and can track and engage moving targets up to about one kilometer away.

• Ukraine plans to acquire about 4.5 million small FPV (First Person View) drones in 2025; in that context, 33,000 AI?kits is a large increase (over ten times previous support), but still modest relative to the scale of the drone forces being assembled.

• The strike kits enhance resilience under conditions of signal jamming, allow drones to perform "last?mile" targeting autonomously (i.e. once the target is identified, the kit enables final engagement even if the communication link is lost) and support future development of swarm tactics.

• There is concern from critics about ethical, strategic and geopolitical implications: greater automation in warfare could increase civilian risk, prolong conflict and challenge accountability; Russia has condemned the deal, arguing Western arms shipments worsen bloodshed.

The U.S. has stepped up its military support for Ukraine through a new defense technology contract, announcing that U.S.-German software firm Auterion will deliver 33,000 AI?powered drone "strike kits" to Kyiv by the end of 2025 under a Pentagon deal worth approximately U.S.$50 million.

Auterion's "strike kits," also referred to as Skynode systems, include miniature onboard computers, cameras and radio modules. These components are designed to convert manually operated drones into more autonomous weapons platforms capable of resisting electronic jamming and tracking moving targets at ranges up to one kilometre (about 0.62 miles). The kits build on earlier versions already used by Ukrainian forces, but this new contract boosts the scale of support "more than tenfold," according to Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier. (Related: Israeli drones drop grenades near UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.)

The delivery is part of wider U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, aiming to strengthen Kyiv's ability to defend against increasingly intense Russian aerial attacks, including frequent drone and missile strikes. Analysts note that Russian forces have escalated the deployment of budget suicide or "kamikaze" drones—particularly Iranian?designed Shahed models—in recent weeks. The Skynode kits are intended to enhance precision and resilience under conditions of electronic warfare, address vulnerabilities associated with signal jamming and improve Ukraine's defense in contested environments.

Skynode kits: Enhancing precision amid massive drone proliferation

While 33,000 kits represent a significant expansion, the number remains modest compared to the tens or even hundreds of thousands of drones that Ukrainian forces use or aim to deploy. Ukraine has announced plans to purchase millions of small First Person View (FPV) drones in 2025. Nonetheless, the Skynode systems add critical capabilities. By allowing drones to autonomously lock onto targets for the last segment of flight mission—with reduced operator intervention—the kits help overcome the increasing difficulty of maintaining reliable communication and control under electronic interference.