L3Harris and Skydio Partner on Autonomous Drone Tech

The collaboration integrates tactical radio systems with autonomous drone technology to bolster electronic warfare capabilities.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Robotics

Isometric editorial illustration of a tactical radio connected to a drone, representing autonomous defense technology integration. — L3Harris Technologies and Skydio have partnered to integrate autonomous drone capabilities with tactical radio communications to bolster anti-jamming protections. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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L3Harris Technologies and Skydio Inc. have formed a partnership to integrate autonomous drone capabilities with tactical radio communications. The integration is designed to provide warfighters with layered anti-jam protection in constrained environments.

Why it matters

This technology allows personnel to maintain situational awareness and secure communications by leveraging existing radio hardware. It directly addresses the need for robust connectivity in environments threatened by electronic warfare.

The integration utilizes L3Harris Falcon IV radios and Wraith waveforms alongside the Skydio X10D drone. Currently, over 150,000 fielded tactical radios are capable of hosting the Wraith Shield waveform to detect and neutralize adversarial drones.

The players

L3Harris Technologies

This is a technology company that provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers in the defense and aerospace sectors.

Skydio Inc.

This organization specializes in the manufacturing of autonomous drones and aerial software for enterprise and military applications.

The details

The collaboration employs open-system architectures to bridge existing radio hardware with drone platforms. By deploying the Wraith Shield waveform, these radios can actively scan the spectrum to identify threats and counter enemy drones.

L3Harris announced the partnership on October 15, 2026.

The Tech Race

This integration marks a shift toward utilizing open-system architectures to upgrade legacy hardware with advanced software capabilities. It positions these firms to compete in the expanding sector of AI-enabled autonomous defense systems and spectrum warfare.

For defense personnel and government operators, this integration streamlines equipment utility by enabling current radio hardware to perform new functions. This reduces the need for entirely new hardware deployments while enhancing defensive operational capabilities.

The takeaway

The partnership highlights how software-defined waveforms can extend the operational life and utility of existing military equipment. Users can look for continued reliance on open-system architectures to integrate emerging technologies into established defense frameworks.