Ground drones in Ukraine: from the Shablia turret to logistics UGVs for casualty evacuation

Like Russia, Ukraine is stepping up development of military ground robots. Unlike in Russia, where work on ground drones seems, at least outwardly, to rest mainly on private initiative, Ukrainian projects enjoy full state and military support.

One of the bodies coordinating these efforts is the “Brave1 cluster”. The Ukrainian government created this coordination platform for new military technologies. It promotes cooperation and supports Ukrainian defence technology projects organisationally, with information and financially.

Syrskyi at a test of unmanned systems

In early July, Colonel General Oleksandr Stanislavovych Syrskyi, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, visited tests of unmanned systems and ground robotic complexes at a training area.

His top priority, Syrskyi said, is for innovative unmanned robotic combat platforms on the ground and in the air to be fielded quickly. The path of a technical invention, from the scientists’ laboratory through the production workshop to the combat unit, should become as short as possible.

System solutions are being prepared to employ a wide range of robotic platforms effectively. To this end, unmanned ground and aerial vehicles are being trialled under real combat conditions at a Ukrainian Armed Forces training centre.

Shablia: the remotely controlled “Sabre”

The clear focus is on integrating the remotely controlled Shablia gun turret (Шабля/“Sabre”) from Roboneers into Ukrainian unmanned ground vehicles (UGV). The first trials with the system date back to 2015. Since Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022, development has accelerated sharply: the Shablia М2 version is definitely in series production and deployed at the front.

The turret costs around 15,000 to 20,000 euros. It can mount 7.62-millimetre and 12.7-millimetre machine guns or 40-millimetre grenade launchers. Control is interesting: it runs via the Valve Steam Deck games console, whose open software architecture allows alternative operating systems and thus compatible software.

Shablia has already been installed on the Ironclad (video), Lynx (video) and D-21-11 (video) UGV platforms and tested at the front.

There is one limitation, however: Shablia is not stabilised. The system was originally developed for mounting on tripods and remote control from a nearby shelter. On the UGV platforms mentioned, it can now change position and even fire on the move.

Whether more advanced functions such as automatic target tracking and automatic lead are possible is unclear. Development thus resembles that in Russia: the Russian Kurier platform also has only remotely controlled turrets without more advanced automatic functions.

THeMIS from Milrem Robotics in combat

The THeMIS platform from the Estonian company Milrem Robotics has been in combat for longer. Europe’s leading UGV developer has already exported its multi-purpose UGV to 16 countries, including Estonia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom, the USA and, indeed, Ukraine.

There, the UGV is used for casualty evacuation. First lessons have emerged: medical evacuation vehicles need ballistic protection, electronic countermeasures against drones are to be installed, and a night vision system is wanted. Last May, a THeMIS UGV fell relatively intact into the hands of Russian troops.

Ukraine’s ground drones at a glance

Combat UGVs – mission: engage and defend

• D-21-11: combat platform with automatic turret, four wheels (4-wheeled)
• Ironclad: 4-wheeled, with all-wheel drive and articulated steering
• Lyut: 4-wheeled, built by the Ukrainian start-up Dons; armed with a combat module including a 7.62-millimetre machine gun, fitted with an overview camera and an optical module for aimed fire
• Rys Pro Lynx: multi-purpose UGV for logistics and as a weapon carrier
• Moroz: weapon carrier, 4-wheeled
• Murakha: tracked UGV, weapon carrier and logistics

Kamikaze UGVs – mission: destroy enemy armoured vehicles

• ARK-1: 4-wheeled with all-wheel drive and independent suspension, up to 45 km/h, payload 15 kilograms
• Mangust: 4-wheeled with all-wheel drive and articulated suspension
• Ratel S: 4-wheeled mine carrier (video)
• Smileyk: 4-wheeled with all-wheel drive and articulated suspension

Logistics UGVs – mission: deliver ammunition, evacuate casualties

• Volya-E (Воля-Е): tracked UGV for logistics and casualty evacuation, payload up to 300 kilograms; with a 100-kilogram load, the range is at most 12 kilometres
• Ratel H: 6×6 UGV for logistics and casualty evacuation (video)
• Ratel M: 4-wheeled, for logistics and casualty evacuation (video)
• Termit: tracked UGV for logistics and casualty evacuation, payload 300 kilograms
• KNLR-E: radio-controlled robotic evacuation complex from Drone Rig with night vision system
• Sirko-S1: 4-wheeled with all-wheel drive, for logistics, casualty evacuation and reconnaissance, payload up to 200 kilograms
• Mangust-1: tracked UGV, logistics
• Vepr: tracked UGV for logistics, casualty evacuation and as a minelayer