Ukraine has lifted the curtain on its TOLOKA underwater drone family at Defense Tech Valley 2025, underscoring the country’s push to expand its homegrown defense technology.
Making its first public appearance on September 19, the lineup features three models with strike ranges reaching up to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).
The smallest, the TLK-150, is optimized for stealth infiltration, making it fit for asymmetric warfare operations.
The mid-sized TLK-400 measures 4 to 6 meters (13 to 20 feet), with a stated range of 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) and a 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) payload capacity.
It can come in a composite or metal body, with the metal variant submerging to up to 30 meters (98 feet), and powered by a gasoline engine.
The drone can conduct search operations or function as a kamikaze, delivering its payload by direct impact.
At the top end, the TLK-1000 stretches 12 meters (39 feet), carries up to 5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds), and can strike targets as far as 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) away.
This diesel-electric autonomous vehicle combines rechargeable batteries, electric motors, and a diesel generator for operations of up to three months at sea.
All TOLOKA drones can operate autonomously or in coordinated groups, communicating underwater through acoustic modems or above water via satellite links.
Expanding Ukraine’s Sea Strike
According to local media, the TOLOKA system is meant to extend Ukraine’s maritime strike capabilities amid the ongoing war with Russia.
The drones are engineered for low detectability, operating just below the surface to minimize the chance of detection during long-range missions.
“Ukraine’s Armed Forces will soon receive a number of new systems, including drones, unmanned boats, ground robotic complexes, and electronic warfare equipment,” said the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
