What new Ukrainian defence startup IXIAN brings to market: NOKTA and Molly UAVs, and the Terrikon-X UGV

A new drone manufacturer has appeared in Ukraine – IXIAN. Among its developments are a logistics UGV, reconnaissance-logistics VTOL type drone, and a UAV complex that combines a fixed-wing drone and a quadcopter. Defender Media spoke with IXIAN’s brand manager, Yevheniia Shevchenko, about the company’s origins and its first products.

What we know about IXIAN

According to Shevchenko, IXIAN was founded by several IT entrepreneurs with a long history of supporting the military. After the full-scale invasion, they ramped up their efforts and recently launched a defence tech company to develop solutions directly needed on the frontline.

“Our main goal is to help the guys at the front and bring this war to an end as quickly as possible,” says Shevchenko. The company actively cooperates with the Defence Forces, including four brigades operating in different sectors.

IXIAN has not attracted external funding and is developing with its founders’ own capital. “We’re not really looking for investment – we’re more interested in partnerships,” Shevchenko explains. The company is open to collaboration with developers of technologies that could improve IXIAN drones – in communications, detection, cameras, motors and beyond.

IXIAN enters the market with four products (one of them a complex consisting of two UAVs). For now, UGV production is measured in single units, and UAVs in dozens. “We plan to scale according to customer demand,” Shevchenko says. “We have the capacity and experience. As soon as we get an order, we can ramp up production from dozens to hundreds within a month.”

NOKTA UAV Complex

The NOKTA unmanned aviation complex consists of a fixed-wing drone, which gave its name to the system, and the IXIAN x10 quadcopter. Both can conduct reconnaissance and be used as loitering munitions. The quadcopter can also function as a signal relay.

The fixed-wing drone has a range of 50–60 km, a maximum altitude of 2,000 m, a speed of up to 160 km/h, and a flight endurance of 40–50 minutes. Resistant to electronic warfare, it is equipped with a guidance system for striking enemy targets. Its warhead weighs up to 3 kg. Launch is performed with a catapult; deployment takes 20 minutes, while packing up takes 10. If necessary, additional terminal guidance modules can be installed.

According to Shevchenko, NOKTA has already undergone military testing with good results. “We’re currently working on codification – we expect to complete this process within a few weeks.”

The IXIAN x10 quadcopter has a range of 30 km, a maximum altitude of 3 km, a top speed of 120 km/h, and can carry up to 2 kg of payload.

Terrikon-X UGV

The Terrikon-X logistics UGV can carry more than 300 kg of payload. According to the manufacturer, it is designed for a wide range of tasks – from transportation to field engineering works. Its operational distance on a single charge is 40 km, with a speed of 15 km/h.

The Terrikon-X is currently undergoing testing with the military, Shevchenko notes.

Reconnaissance-Logistics aircraft Molly with VTOL system

Molly is a reconnaissance-logistics UAV of the VTOL type – it takes off and lands vertically. It can stay airborne for up to two hours, cover a distance of over 70 km, and fly at altitudes of up to 3,500 m.

According to Shevchenko, Molly recently completed internal field tests. The company is now arranging trials with the military.