- Ukraine has paused additional orders of Helsing’s HX-2 strike drones after frontline tests identified launch and reliability issues during combat evaluations.
- Germany will not place follow-on orders for the HX-2 until Ukraine formally confirms renewed interest in the system.
Ukraine has paused additional orders of HX-2 strike drones from German defense technology firm Helsing after the systems showed technical problems during frontline testing, according to Bloomberg.
The decision follows field trials conducted by Ukraine’s 14th Regiment, a unit specializing in unmanned aerial systems, where the HX-2 experienced repeated difficulties during launch and operation. The internal German military presentation, dated Nov. 20 and reviewed by Bloomberg, said several drones failed to take off and lacked some of the artificial intelligence components promised in the system’s design.
According to the presentation, which was prepared by a unit reporting to General Gunter Schneider of the German Defense Ministry, the HX-2 was expected to include AI-enabled terminal guidance, midcourse navigation, and visual target acquisition. However, the document stated that not all of these functions were installed on the drones tested in Ukraine.
People familiar with the trials said the drones also faced problems linked to electronic warfare conditions near the front line, where jamming disrupted communications between the drone and its human operator. In addition, mechanical issues with the launch catapult affected reliability during deployment attempts, according to the presentation and three people briefed on the tests.
As a result, Germany does not plan to place a follow-on order for HX-2 systems until Ukraine formally expresses renewed interest, according to the document and two people familiar with the procurement process. The drones are paid for by the German military and delivered to Ukraine as part of Berlin’s support package.
Helsing, Europe’s most valuable defense technology startup, said in a statement that it was not aware of the German military presentation and rejected several of its conclusions. The company denied claims that the HX-2 had a high failure rate during takeoff and said Ukrainian military units continue to show interest in the system.
“The hit rate of the first flights, which was officially documented, is encouraging,” Helsing said, adding that it is too early to draw conclusions from limited frontline testing. The company said it expects the HX-2’s test performance to translate into battlefield results, including under electronic warfare conditions.
The HX-2 is Helsing’s first in-house designed strike drone delivered to an active war zone. Unveiled in December 2024, the system uses an X-wing configuration that combines fixed wings with quadcopter-style rotors, allowing it to launch vertically and then transition to forward flight. The drone is designed to strike targets at ranges of up to 100 kilometers and was promoted by the company as an AI-enabled system capable of limited autonomous navigation.
Helsing signed a contract in 2024 to supply 4,000 strike drones produced in cooperation with a Ukrainian partner. About half of those systems, known as the HF-1, have already been delivered, while roughly 40% remain in Ukrainian inventory, according to the German presentation. The contract was later adjusted to shift production toward the more advanced HX-2, the document said.
The earlier HF-1 model, built largely from plywood, had drawn criticism in Ukraine for its cost and battlefield performance, according to previous Bloomberg reporting. Helsing had announced plans in February 2025 to ship an additional 6,000 HX-2 drones, though the German Defense Ministry said at the time it had not committed to financing such an order.
The setbacks highlight the fast and unforgiving innovation cycle of the war in Ukraine, where drones are tested, adapted, and replaced within weeks as both sides adjust to electronic warfare, new tactics, and changing battlefield conditions. Western manufacturers increasingly use Ukraine as a real-world proving ground, but systems that perform well in controlled tests often struggle under combat stress.
In separate trials conducted in October with the German and British militaries, Helsing said the HX-2 performed well and hit nearly all assigned targets, outperforming competing systems. Those tests were carried out outside Ukraine and under different conditions, according to people familiar with the evaluations.
Other Western drone makers have also faced early difficulties in Ukraine. Anduril Industries acknowledged that its Ghost and Altius drones struggled during initial deployment phases before being redesigned and returned to service, according to company statements.