Ukrainian unmanned combat vehicles

Milrem Robotics, an Estonia-based developer of robotic and autonomous systems, recently announced that it has signed a contract with German defense company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) to deliver 14 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to Ukraine.

According to a Milrem press release, seven of the 14 vehicles will be configured for casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and are scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year. The other seven will be delivered in the second quarter of 2023 and will be configured for route clearance via payloads from French defense manufacturer CNIM Systèmes Industriels.

This work is being funded by the German Ministry of Defense.

Captain (res) Jüri Pajuste, Director of Defense R&D at Milrem Robotics, explains, “Casualty evacuation and route clearance are two labor-intensive activities that require the involvement of multiple people who are under constant threat of enemy fire. Automating these tasks using driverless vehicles mitigates this danger and allows more soldiers to remain in safe areas or take on more important tasks.”

Earlier this year, Milrem Robotics delivered a CASEVAC THeMIS to a Ukrainian charity, which proved to be a valuable asset.

“Deploying the THEMIS UGV to Ukraine means that the Ukrainian Army can improve the safety of its soldiers and allow the UGV to handle tasks that pose a direct threat to humans. This is the ultimate goal of the robotic system. milrem Robotics is proud to contribute to Ukraine’s fight against the aggressor.” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.

“This important project is a testament to our joint ability to provide advanced technology to Ukraine. We are determined to support Ukraine with protective and life-saving equipment. the rapid delivery of 14 THeMIS UGVs proves that KMW and Milrem are partners you can trust.” said Ralf Ketzel, CEO of KMW.

THeMIS is a multi-mission unmanned ground vehicle with an open architecture that allows it to be rapidly configured depending on the nature of the mission, from having a transport function to weaponizing, performing ordnance handling or supporting intelligence operations.