As the conflict with Russia persists, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are increasingly leveraging unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for diverse battlefield roles, ranging from electronic warfare (EW) platforms to medical evacuation (medevac) units. Ukrainian officials emphasize their continuous search for innovative UGV applications.
„Ready to Test Any System”: Ukraine’s Call for Innovation
During the GVSETS ground vehicle conference in Michigan, Maj. Gen. Borys Kremenskyi of the Ukrainian Army expressed Ukraine’s openness to new technologies. „I saw today some [unmanned] systems over there in the exhibition,” Kremenskyi stated. „We have to work with them. Just to be very clear, we are ready to take any system to test.”
EW Domes and Medevac Solutions: UGVs on the Front Lines
Kremenskyi, serving as the defense attache for the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, highlighted the crucial role of UGVs on the battlefield. The saturation of electronic warfare signals has led Ukrainian forces to equip unmanned platforms with EW capabilities, deploying them in hazardous areas. „When we are talking about EW, we are changing, and the enemies are changing. We are developing this [approach], but it creates a kind of electronic warfare dome,” he explained. UGVs are also being utilized for medevac operations, addressing the issue of Russian drones disregarding the red crosses on manned medical vehicles.
Clearing the Way: Mine Clearance with Unmanned Systems
Mine clearance presents another critical application for UGVs. Kremenskyi described the challenges: „Despite all the machinery, we cannot go there [to the minefields]. A soldier with a metal needle cannot test this. So, it’s a really huge problem.” The United Nations estimates that over 20 percent of Ukraine’s land is contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance, covering approximately 55,000 square miles.
Eyes on the Enemy: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
UGVs are also making strides in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). The domestically developed Droid TW tracked platform has been conducting ISR missions since December, employing artificial intelligence to identify enemy personnel.
Innovate or Perish: Adapting to the Speed of War
Kremenskyi emphasized the necessity of constant innovation. „It is about innovation. If you don’t innovate during two months, you are dead. So, you need to change,” he asserted.
A Growing Arsenal: New UGVs Approved for Deployment
In the first half of this year, Ukraine approved nearly 30 new UGVs and remotely controlled weapon stations for deployment, signaling a commitment to advancing unmanned ground capabilities in the ongoing conflict.
