Ukraine has reportedly suspended plans for additional orders of HX-2 attack drones from the German AI defense firm Helsing. This follows a series of problems identified during recent combat tests at the front, according to a Bloomberg report citing German military documents and sources.
The tests, conducted by a Ukrainian drone forces regiment, revealed several operational shortcomings. The drones allegedly experienced mechanical launch failures, vulnerability to Russian electronic warfare leading to signal loss, and were not equipped with all promised artificial intelligence features.
As a result, interest in further deliveries has cooled. Germany, which funds the drone purchases, is reportedly waiting for official Ukrainian confirmation of need before placing any new order. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry declined to comment on the report.
Helsing has strongly contested the characterization. In a statement, the company claimed the HX-2 successfully passed frontline testing and has been approved for use. They stated that over six Ukrainian army units have since requested more than 1,000 additional drones and that the system is now included in Ukraine’s official centralized procurement list.
Also read: Ukraine Halts German HX-2 Drone Orders After Battlefield Failures, Bloomberg Reveals
The HX-2 is Helsing’s first self-designed hardware system deployed in a combat zone. A 2024 contract committed to supplying 4,000 units, about half of which have been delivered. However, the report notes that as of November 2025, roughly 40% of delivered drones remained in Ukrainian warehouses.
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The situation highlights the challenges of rapidly fielding new, advanced military technology in an intense and electronically contested war environment.
