Meet Sweetheart: Ukraine’s New Low-Cost Recon Drone With 150 Km Range

Ukrainian drone manufacturer General Chereshnya has unveiled a new fixed-wing reconnaissance drone called Sweetheart, designed for intelligence-gathering missions deep behind enemy lines.

According to statements released by the company on June 24, the system is currently undergoing combat testing, with serial production expected to begin later this year.

The new platform expands General Chereshnya’s family of fixed-wing unmanned aircraft and was developed in cooperation with Ukrainian military units. Company founder Yaroslav Hryshyn said the project aimed to create a low-cost reconnaissance aircraft capable of operating in contested environments while remaining simple to deploy in the field.

“We set ourselves the task of creating a reconnaissance aircraft that would be affordable, easy to use, and at the same time capable of performing complex tasks deep in the enemy’s rear. That is exactly what our Sweetheart is,” Hryshyn said.

One of the drone’s key features is its launch method. Sweetheart can be launched by hand and does not require a catapult or dedicated launch equipment. According to the company, the drone weighs 4 kilograms, has a wingspan of 1.7 meters, and can remain airborne for up to three hours.

General Chereshnya says the aircraft can operate at ranges exceeding 150 kilometers and is equipped with a digital video link, a zoom-capable camera, automatic target-tracking functions, and a laser rangefinder. The company also states that the drone incorporates protection measures against electronic warfare systems.

According to the developer, Sweetheart was designed with a low acoustic signature and becomes difficult to hear from the ground at altitudes above 50–70 meters, reducing the likelihood of detection during reconnaissance missions.

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The company estimates that the cost of a Sweetheart system will be approximately six times lower than that of many comparable fixed-wing reconnaissance drones currently available.

“At this cost, military personnel will not be afraid of losing the aircraft, and in some cases will be able to deliberately send it on a one-way mission to obtain critically important intelligence information,” Hryshyn said.

Earlier, Ukrainian drone manufacturer Deviro unveiled the Bulava M2V middle-strike drone and Leleka M2R reconnaissance drone at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris. The upgraded Bulava M2V has a range of up to 130 kilometers and a larger payload, while the Leleka M2R received improvements to range, survivability, and operation in adverse weather conditions.

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