Inside Ukraine's TOLOKA underwater drones: Secret combat capabilities revealed

At least three underwater drones from this series are known. They are designed for missions at short, medium, and long ranges, respectively.

"The largest TOLOKA is just one of a family of underwater drones, which includes at least three models: TLK-200 (TOLOKA 200), TLK-400 (TOLOKA 400)... and the massive TOLOKA 1000," the Defense Express states.

Underwater drone TLK-200

TLK-200 is the smallest in the series. It is an autonomous underwater drone powered by electric motors, intended for short-range missions. Its specifications include:

• Range: up to 100 kilometers;
• Autonomy: up to 15 days;
• Propulsion: two electric motors;
• Communication system: satellite-based with countermeasures against electronic warfare;
• Navigation: GNSS and AI-INS;
• Targeting system: optical camera or thermal imager;
• Payload (combat part): up to 15 kilograms;
• Operating depth: up to 300 meters;
• Dimensions: length 2.9 meters, body diameter 0.2 meters;
• Recommended operations: communication relay, reconnaissance, strike missions, mine-laying.

Underwater drone TLK-400

TLK-400 is a hybrid-engine underwater drone for medium-range missions. It is significantly larger than TLK-200 and can carry a much heavier payload. Its specifications include:

• Range: up to 1,200 kilometers;
• Autonomy: up to 60 days;
• Propulsion: hybrid (four electric motors and an internal combustion engine);
• Communication system: satellite-based with countermeasures against electronic warfare;
• Navigation: AI-INS with DVL and GNSS;
• Targeting system: versatile – thermal imager, optical camera, radio frequency source targeting, passive and active acoustics;
• Payload (combat part): up to 500 kilograms;
• Operating depth: up to 300 meters;
• Dimensions: length 12 meters, body diameter 0.4 meters;
• Recommended operations: reconnaissance, mine-laying, signal relay, strike missions.

Underwater drone TLK-1000

TLK-1000 is the largest drone in the series and served as the flagship at the exhibition. It is designed for long-range missions and can function both as a "kamikaze" drone and a carrier drone. Its specifications include:

• Range: up to 2,000 kilometers;
• Autonomy: up to 60 days;
• Propulsion: hybrid (four electric motors and an internal combustion engine);
• Communication system: satellite-based with FHSS and countermeasures against electronic warfare;
• AI integration: optical, thermal, acoustic, and inertial AI networks;
• Special equipment integration: possible for reconnaissance, mine-laying, or seabed mapping;
• Navigation: GNSS, AI-INS with DVL;
• Targeting system: versatile – thermal imager, optical camera, radio frequency source targeting;
• Payload (combat part): up to 5,000 kilograms;
• Operating depth: up to 300 meters in composite hull, up to 30 meters in metal hull;
• Dimensions: length 12 meters, body diameter 1.5 meters;
• Recommended operations: destruction of large stationary targets, attacks in combat zones, potential use as a carrier drone (unconfirmed).

The names of all three drone types likely refer to the diameter of the hull. At the exhibition, TOLOKA representatives confirmed that the drones can also be used for mine countermeasures, acoustic reconnaissance, and detailed seabed mapping.

"Our drones independently detect, classify, and neutralize underwater mines, significantly increasing the safety and efficiency of maritime operations," the company said.

Earlier, on September 19, at the Brave1 Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition in Lviv, the domestic underwater drone TOLOKA was shown. It is capable of striking targets up to 2,000 kilometers away, though this was not the company’s first maritime drone demonstration.

In February 2025, at Support Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally showed allies the latest TOLOKA underwater drones. At that time, large models like TLK-1000 existed only as prototypes.