U.S. Army Tests German HX-2 Drones Already Used by Ukraine

The U.S. Army tested German-made HX-2 loitering munitions produced by Helsing during the Project Flytrap exercise in Lithuania.

According to Axios, the trials marked one of the first instances in which the U.S. military evaluated the capabilities of the system, which has already been combat-tested in Ukraine.

The exercise took place at the Pabradė training area and focused on the deployment of unmanned systems and counter-drone technologies.

According to the U.S. military, during the trials, 17 HX-2 drones carried out 15 successful target strikes, while the remaining two flights resulted in near hits. In total, around 200 flights involving various unmanned aerial systems were conducted as part of the exercise.

The HX-2 was developed by the German company Helsing. The drone is equipped with artificial intelligence systems that enable it to detect and track targets even in environments with intensive electronic warfare activity. The system can also operate without a GPS signal.

According to the manufacturer, the HX-2 has a range of up to 100 km and can reach speeds exceeding 200 km/h. The drone weighs approximately 12 kg, of which 4 kg is allocated to payload. The developers also state that multiple HX-2 drones can be operated as a coordinated swarm under the control of a single operator.

The trials attracted attention because the HX-2 is already being used by Ukrainian forces. In 2025, Helsing announced plans to deliver thousands of these drones to Ukraine, and lessons learned from the Russia–Ukraine war became one of the key factors in the development and refinement of the system.

The drone itself was first unveiled in 2024.

It is worth noting that, in addition to Ukraine and the United States, the armed forces of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and several other European countries are testing the latest HX-2 strike drone.

Successful completion of these trials could pave the way for procurement of the system by these countries.

Helsing has also adapted the HX-2 for deployment from naval vessels and boats.