Unmanned ground vehicles: Ukrainian General Staff turns to robotic strongpoints for defence

Robotic strongpoints with remote-controlled weapon modules and unmanned ground vehicles are to become part of Ukraine’s defence. The General Staff announced this after its monthly meeting, which focused on new developments in unmanned capabilities. The Ukrainian Armed Forces want to use these drones to strengthen defence while relieving the infantry.

The striking power of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) remains a focus. Systems for intercepting drones are also explicitly mentioned.

Unmanned ground vehicles in action: Droid TW 12.7 holds a crossroads

Praise also went to the experience of assault company NC13 of the 3rd Assault Brigade with a Droid TW 12.7 unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). In mid-October it was reported that, thanks to the skilfully deployed robot, the company had been able to hold a position for a month and a half. Armed with a 12.7-millimetre M2 Browning machine gun, the UGV secured a crossroads in a village across which enemy troops repeatedly advanced. Every morning the operators drove the robot to its position, and every evening they brought it back.

The Droid TW 12.7 is made by the Ukrainian company DevDroid. It is controlled by tablet via Starlink or LTE at distances of up to 5 kilometres and can engage targets at up to 1,500 metres. On board are a thermal imaging system and a ballistic computer. With the 12.7-millimetre weapon it carries 300 rounds; with a 7.62-millimetre machine gun, up to 1,000 rounds.

For some time now, Ukraine and Russia have been intensively refining their tactics for using UGVs, both in exercises and at the front. These include operations with semi-autonomous swarms as well as controlling, overriding and handing over a robot between several operators. Ukraine also has stationary, remote-controlled Shablya and Wolly weapon modules, which are operated by tablet from covered positions.

For the time being, Ukrainian sources rule out fully autonomous “steel sentries”: robotic systems still need human support. However, the trend towards leaving more and more of the most dangerous tasks at the front to machines is clearly visible. The Droid TW 12.7 of assault company NC13 also had to be driven back from the crossroads every day, maintained, charged and resupplied with ammunition before it could be deployed again.

UGVs have meanwhile become indispensable in Ukrainian logistics.