On October 7, the Ukrainian state defense company Ukroboronprom signed a cooperation agreement with the American company LeVanta Tech Inc. for the joint development of a new class of naval drones that can work both on water and in the air.
According to Defense Express, this initiative could pave the way for Ukraine to finally get Halia-X – a heavy, unmanned ekranoplan with a potential range of up to 5,000 kilometers and a payload of 1 ton.
A new class of naval drones
The collaboration centers on the"hover and fly" concept, which uses the aerodynamic effect of the ground to reduce drag and improve flight efficiency at low altitudes over water.
🚀 Ukraine inks deal with LeVanta Tech — unleashing a “float-and-fly” drone that could threaten Russia's Black Sea fleet.
The Halia-X model: up to 5,000 km range, 1-ton payload. If weaponized, Russia's warships may no longer feel safe near the Ukrainian coast. (Defense Express) pic.twitter.com/ujjrsjoP7K— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Frontline_Daily (@ukraine_frontup) October 9, 2025
LeVanta Tech specializes in this area, and according to the company, their aircraft can reduce air resistance by as much as 50 percent compared to conventional designs.
At the heart of this technology is the Halia family of drones, which includes three models: the civilian Halia-S, the medium-sized military Halia-M and the long-range military Halia-X. Although all three designs use ground effect, Halia-X stands out because of its size and potential military applications.
As Defense Express reports, 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 glide only a few meters above the surface of the water at speeds of up to 2 77 km/ h, the platform could complicate detection and interception efforts due to its low radar visibility and high mobility.
Details and features of the platform
All variants of Halia drones are built to combine the characteristics of ships and aircraft. For example:
Halia-S: Civil version with electric drive, range of 400 km and payload of 22–45 kg;
Halia-M: Military-capable platform with electric or jet engines, enabling a range of 1,000 to 3,200 km;
Halia-X: The largest model, exclusively jet-powered, capable of flying up to 5,000 km with a payload of 1 ton.
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"Ukroboronprom" signed an agreement for cooperation with the company LeVanta Tech Inc., according to the concept of"float-and-fly" (a device with the possibility of swimming and flying), and it will open the way for the delivery of Halia-X drones with a range of almost 5000 km and payloads in 1 tn. pic.twitter.com/BrzFBXcwBr— Bachu Píkču™ (@BachuPicchu2) October 9, 2025
According to Defense Express, the Halia platforms fly low enough to avoid most radar detection but can climb briefly to avoid barriers such as naval defense masts.
Therefore, they are particularly suitable for penetrating port defenses or conducting reconnaissance and special operations.
Analysts cited by Defense Express suggest that Ukraine could repurpose these drones as long-range spoofing munitions. In that role, the Halia-X could potentially reach targets far beyond the borders of Ukraine, including Russian naval assets in fortified ports.
What's next?
Ukroboronprom stressed that the agreement also includes plans to localize production in Ukraine and launch a training program for domestic experts.
In a statement, Ukroboronprom German 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 gunsmiths."
However, no time frame was given for the deployment of these drones. According to Defense Express, all three models of Halia drones are still under development and have not yet reached operational status. Even with the participation of Ukraine, serial production and deployment are not expected in the near future.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon is turning to Ukrainian drone manufacturers after US startups failed to meet battlefield requirements. Ukrainian companies like Skyfall, which have produced millions of combat-ready drones, are now working with US firms to supply low-cost, jam-proof systems – some of which could soon be in service with the US military.
