A Ukrainian defence start-up has developed an amphibious uncrewed ground platform called “Toni”, designed for logistics, evacuation and special missions on land and water. The developers told Defender Media.
The system is built on an eight-wheeled chassis and is equipped with an electric powertrain with two motors. According to the developers, on land “Toni” reaches a top speed of up to 13 km/h, while on water it makes between 2 and 4 km/h. The stated range is up to 50 km on land and up to 5 km on water at a 50% battery charge. The developers note that they are working to increase the platform’s speed and range.
On land, the system moves using eight wheels. For movement on water, the wheels are also used, while a waterjet propulsion system is currently being tested. The platform can enter the water at an angle of up to 32° and climb out onto the shore at an angle of up to 27°. A pump has also been installed to remove water.
For remote control, “Toni” uses ELRS and Starlink communications channels. LTE integration is at the testing stage. If the connection is lost, the Failsafe Stop system automatically stops the platform. For observation, the system is equipped with day, night and thermal imaging cameras.
Read alsoRobotising the kill zone: the story of UGV use and today’s challenges and tasks
According to the manufacturer, “Toni” has already undergone trials under the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine state project “Iron Training Ground”, created to test Ukrainian samples of weapons and military equipment. The company claims that “Toni” is currently the only amphibious platform to have been tested at this site. In addition, the development has already been tested within the Brave1 defence technology cluster.
The team says the prototype is ready for trials in conditions close to real-world use. The estimated cost of the system is UAH 2 million. The developers also reported that they are ready to attract investment for the project’s further development.
The developers do not disclose the company’s name, but have shared information about their professional background. The project’s author and chief engineer became Ukraine’s buggy racing champion in 2025. Before the full-scale invasion, he ran several businesses in different sectors. Another co-founder, from 2022, was a member of a Volunteer Formation of the Territorial Community (DFTG), and later founded a company producing drones.