The Ukrainian Defense Forces have begun testing cheap strike ground robots equipped with turrets carrying two Kalashnikov assault rifles in active combat operations.
The automated platforms were created by a developer within Ukraine's Brave1 defense technology cluster, with the first production units already deployed in frontline combat conditions, Defender Media reported.
Fighters from Center A, the elite special operations unit of the Security Service of Ukraine, have already used the system in battlefield engagements. According to data provided by Brave1, the ground robot helped destroy enemy ambushes where Russian troops had hidden waiting drones to launch attacks against Ukrainian units.
Brave1 operates as Ukraine's official government initiative for accelerating military technology innovations, providing funding grants and organizational support to companies building battlefield systems. The Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, deploys specialized tactical teams like Center A to conduct high-risk operations along active combat zones.
Robot design and technical features
The robotic vehicle features a four-wheeled chassis equipped with airless tires and a reinforced protective hull. Its twin Kalashnikov turret is designed for flexibility and can be installed on other wheeled or tracked robotic platforms in addition to this model.
Engineers produced the working prototype in under six months after receiving technical specifications and a grant from Brave1. Developers said they chose the Kalashnikov rifle because of its widespread availability across the Defense Forces, which will make it easier to scale the deployment of these combat robots for operational tasks.
Kalashnikov assault rifles are standard infantry firearms in the region, ensuring reliable access to ammunition and spare parts across frontline units. Defense forces increasingly rely on remote ground vehicles to perform hazardous assault and clearing missions while keeping human operators out of direct line of fire.
Recent ground combat robot operations
The field trial follows several recent combat operations involving Ukrainian robotic systems. Military forces previously destroyed a Russian position using a ground combat robot operating in tandem with an airborne drone. In another operation on the Kinburn Spit, a naval drone delivered a ground combat robot to a target area for the first time.
In a separate engagement, a Ukrainian ground robot designated as the Droid TW-7.62 captured three Russian soldiers during combat operations.
The Kinburn Spit is a strategic sandy peninsula located in southern Ukraine at the mouth of the Dnipro River, where control of maritime access routes has driven amphibious and uncrewed vehicle operations.
