SkyFall confirms drone production without Chinese parts

Ukrainian defense company SkyFall revealed at the World Defence Show 2026 that it is deepening localization of its Vampire and Shrike drones, including a version of the Vampire platform built without Chinese components.

The announcement was made during an interview with the Ukrainian outlet “Oboronka” at the exhibition.

“Right now we have a ‘Vampire non-China’ version, meaning without Chinese components. But by the end of the year it will be completely Ukrainian,” a company representative said.

SkyFall stated that several key elements of the Vampire drone are already domestically produced. According to the company, communications systems, antennas, chassis, and part of the ground control station are now manufactured in Ukraine. The firm is also developing its own camera systems and preparing them for mass production.

The Vampire drone is described by the manufacturer as a bomber-type unmanned aerial system widely used by Ukrainian forces. It is among the systems that Russian troops collectively refer to as “Baba Yaga.” The platform is designed to carry and release munitions against enemy positions and equipment.

SkyFall also detailed progress on localization of its Shrike first-person-view (FPV) drones. The company said that some Shrike units are already fully produced using Ukrainian components, although production scale remains a constraint.

“We already have 100% localized ‘Shrikes,’ and they are fully waterproof. And they are many times superior in characteristics to global analogues. What separates us from mass production of fully localized drones is the condition and quantity of production capacities, which are currently being scaled,” the company added.

The manufacturer said the push toward domestic production is driven by supply risks linked to foreign sourcing.

“Drones must be transferred to Ukrainian components due to supply risks from China,” SkyFall stated.

The localization effort reflects a broader trend within Ukraine’s defense industry to reduce reliance on imported electronics and subcomponents, particularly those sourced from China. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian manufacturers have expanded domestic production lines to support frontline demand for unmanned systems.

The company emphasized that while technical localization is advancing, full-scale production of entirely Ukrainian-built drones depends on the expansion of industrial capacity. According to SkyFall, manufacturing facilities are currently being scaled to support higher output.

The Vampire drone has been widely used by Ukrainian units as a strike system capable of delivering explosive payloads against Russian forces. FPV drones such as Shrike are typically employed for direct attack missions, including targeting armored vehicles and fortified positions.