F10 Lightrunner
Skydio · United States · also known as Skydio F10, F10 · Updated
F10 Lightrunner is a fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft developed by Skydio of the United States, announced on 24 September 2026 as the company's first fixed-wing platform. It is designed for long-range public-safety and infrastructure-inspection missions that launch and land autonomously from a ground dock, without a runway, ground crew or on-site pilot.
Overview
Skydio unveiled the F10 Lightrunner at its Ascend 2026 conference on 24 September 2026, alongside the indoor R10 quadcopter and new fleet-management software. The aircraft extends Skydio's autonomy engine, first built for its dock-based X10 quadcopter, into a longer-range fixed-wing airframe intended for missions "measured in miles" — emergency response, search and rescue, and asset inspection over wide areas. Skydio states the F10 will begin deploying to customers in 2027.
The F10 is launched and recovered by Robotic Takeoff and Landing (RTOL), a suction-based gripper system built into its MegaDock ground station that catches and releases the aircraft without a ground crew. A single MegaDock holds up to five F10 aircraft, letting an operator run several concurrent missions from one site. Skydio pairs the aircraft with its existing Command software and two new modules, Asset Command and Security Command, which route infrastructure-inspection and security-patrol missions to the fleet automatically.
Design and capabilities
The F10 measures 57.8 by 33.9 by 7.7 inches (1.47 by 0.86 by 0.20 m) and weighs 15.43 lb (7 kg) including batteries. Skydio's technical specification sheet states a maximum flight time of 120 minutes, a top speed of 100 mph (161 km/h) and a cruise speed of 45 mph (72 km/h), with a service ceiling of 11,000 ft (3,352 m) density altitude; a separate FAQ page describes a shorter "up to two hours total mission time" built from about 90 minutes of flight plus a 30-minute recharge, which is lower than the spec sheet's flight-time figure. The company's Ascend 2026 announcement quotes a 30-mile (48 km) mission radius, though other Skydio material gives area-coverage figures of roughly 1,200–2,800 square miles per mission rather than a single radius figure — a discrepancy to confirm against Skydio's own spec sheet.
A "SideEye" off-centre camera mount keeps the wing out of frame. Sensors include a 48 MP telephoto camera (35 mm full-frame equivalent 190 mm), a 64 MP wide camera, and a FLIR Boson+ uncooled thermal imager, backed by six navigation cameras for obstacle avoidance. The aircraft carries an integrated parachute, is rated IP55, and Skydio states it can launch and land autonomously in winds up to 27 mph and fly in moderate rain. Connectivity runs over Skydio's Connect SL link near the dock and Connect 5G cellular data elsewhere, with AES-256 and AES-128 encryption respectively.
Use cases
Skydio markets the F10 for public-safety agencies running high-speed pursuits, long-duration overwatch, search and rescue, and coverage of large or rural perimeters, as well as for critical-infrastructure operators needing long-range patrols and post-storm damage assessment. Beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight requires FAA approval, which Skydio bundles with its Regulatory Services offering; the aircraft is eligible for FAA Part 107 Category 3 operation in forward flight but not in hover.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the F10 Lightrunner?
Skydio states a 30-mile (48 km) mission radius, with up to 120 minutes of flight time per sortie.
How fast does the F10 Lightrunner fly?
Skydio states a top speed of 100 mph (161 km/h) and a cruise speed of 45 mph (72 km/h).
How does the F10 Lightrunner launch and land?
It launches and lands autonomously from a MegaDock ground station using a suction-based robotic gripper, without a runway or ground crew.
When will the F10 Lightrunner be available?
Skydio announced it on 24 September 2026 and states it will deploy to customers in 2027.
Who makes the F10 Lightrunner?
Skydio, a US drone maker based in San Mateo, California.
