Ukraine Could Soon Deploy Sea-Launched Drones With 5,000 km Range and 1-Ton Warheads

On October 7, Ukraine’s state defense enterprise Ukroboronprom has signed a cooperation agreement with the US-based company LeVanta Tech Inc. to jointly develop a new class of naval drones that can operate both on water and in the air.

According to Defense Express, the initiative may pave the way for Ukraine to eventually receive the Halia-X—a heavy, unmanned ekranoplan drone with a potential range of up to 5,000 kilometers and a payload capacity of 1 ton.

A new class of maritime drone

The collaboration centers on the “float-and-fly” concept, which utilizes the aerodynamic ground effect to reduce drag and enhance flight efficiency at low altitudes above water.

LeVanta Tech specializes in this field, and according to the company, its aircraft can reduce drag by as much as 50 percent compared to conventional designs.

At the center of this technology is the Halia drone family, which includes three models: the civil Halia-S, the mid-sized military Halia-M, and the long-range military Halia-X. While all three designs take advantage of the ground effect, the Halia-X stands out due to its scale and potential military applications.

As Defense Express reports, the Halia-X is powered by a jet engine, can carry up to 1,000 kg, and has a flight range of nearly 5,000 kilometers.

Designed to skim just meters above the water’s surface at speeds of up to 277 km/h, the platform’s low radar visibility and high mobility could complicate detection and interception efforts.

Platform details and capabilities

All Halia variants are built to blend characteristics of boats and aircraft. For example:

• Halia-S: Civilian version with electric propulsion, 400 km range, and payload of 22–45 kg;

• Halia-M: A military-capable platform with either electric or jet engines, allowing ranges from 1,000 to 3,200 km;

• Halia-X: The largest model, exclusively jet-powered, capable of flying up to 5,000 km with a 1-ton payload.

According to Defense Express, the Halia platforms fly low enough to avoid most radar detection, yet can climb briefly to evade barriers such as naval boom defenses.

This makes them particularly suited for penetrating harbor defenses or conducting reconnaissance and special operations missions.

Analysts cited by Defense Express suggest that Ukraine could eventually repurpose these drones as long-range loitering munitions. In that role, the Halia-X could potentially reach targets far beyond Ukraine’s borders, including Russian naval assets in fortified ports.

What comes next?

Ukroboronprom emphasized that the agreement also includes plans to localize production in Ukraine and launch training programs for domestic specialists.

In a statement Ukroboronprom CEO Herman Smetanin said, “We also plan to jointly develop solutions to improve the speed and stability of our products. We are interested in expanding production in Ukraine and organizing training for our armorers.”

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However, no timeline has been given for when these drones might be deployed. According to Defense Express, all three Halia models remain under development and have not yet reached operational status. Even with Ukrainian involvement, serial production and deployment are not expected in the near term.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon is turning to Ukrainian drone makers after US startups failed to meet battlefield requirements. Ukrainian companies like Skyfall, which have produced millions of drones under combat conditions, are now partnering with American firms to supply low-cost, jam-resistant systems—some of which may soon enter US military service.

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