Ground robotic systems for the army
The Ukrainian military department is accelerating the supply of ground robotic systems (GRS) to the front line. The goal is to completely transfer logistics and evacuation tasks to automated systems. In the first half of 2026, contracts are planned for 25,000 GRS units, which will double the figures of the entire year of 2025.
According to the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov, these systems are already performing critically important functions. Only in March, more than 9,000 successful missions were recorded.
"We held a meeting with GRS manufacturers. Our key task is to meet the front's requests and expedite supplies to the troops. We aim for 100% of front logistics to be executed by robotic systems," the minister stated.
Investments and technological development
The Defense Procurement Agency has concluded 19 contracts totaling 11 billion hryvnias. Meanwhile, work is underway to address issues related to changes in tax legislation, which required a review of prices for some of the systems. Now contracts can be concluded even with price changes, speeding up the entire process.
At the 34th ministerial meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group held on April 15 in Berlin, funding was discussed. As a result, Ukraine will receive more than $5.5 billion in assistance, of which $4 billion will be directed to the air defense system, and over $1.5 billion to drones.
Mykhailo Fedorov also noted a new approach to planning: already this year, manufacturers will receive contracts for the next year.
"This will allow businesses to forecast production and deliver the necessary volumes of products on time," he explained.
Together with manufacturers, key tasks were identified, among them:
- scaling production
- standardization
- training operators
- localization of components
- testing grounds
- integration into combat processes
To expedite the implementation of GRS, a center of competence is being created at the Ministry of Defense. It will become a single point of interaction for manufacturers and the military, including the General Staff. The implementation of technologies such as engineering complexes for mining and demining, combat platforms, ground kamikaze drones, and automated turrets for air defense can change the nature of ground operations. Similar trends in robotics are observed in the development of modern armies worldwide, emphasizing the strategic importance of this direction for Ukraine. The widespread use of robots can significantly enhance efficiency and save the lives of military personnel.
While Ukraine is actively increasing the supply of ground robotic systems, the DOT agency is also increasing supplies of mines and ammunition for drones, which allows it to meet more than 50% of the planned volumes for 2025. This highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to armament, where robotic systems and drone technologies play a key role in ensuring the country's defense capabilities.