Frontline units test new robotic turrets armed with assault rifles
Units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine have begun combat testing of new strike unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).
These are specialized robotic turrets armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles, the most widely used type of small arms in the military. The strike systems were developed based on technical requirements provided by the Brave1 defense innovation cluster.
The project received grant funding, with the developers progressing from concept to a finished prototype in less than six months.
Advantages of turrets armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles
Using standard Kalashnikov assault rifles reduces production costs and enables rapid scaling of strike UGV deployment on the front line.
The system features a four-wheel chassis with airless tires and a protected hull. This design provides resistance to fragments, bullets, and punctures and enables the system to maneuver over difficult terrain.
The weapon station features a turret capable of mounting two assault rifles at once. This significantly increases the volume of fire during assault and defensive operations against enemy infantry. The turret can also be mounted on other wheeled and tracked UGVs.
Combat testing of strike UGVs on the front line
Several units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine are already testing these systems under combat conditions. In particular, there are confirmed cases of their successful use by Special Operations Center “A” of the Security Service of Ukraine against enemy ambushes involving ambush drones.
The Ministry of Defense is systematically working to field robotic systems. These systems are intended to take on the most dangerous frontline tasks, minimizing the need for infantry to operate in areas of direct fire contact. We are expanding the use of robotics on the front line to reduce risks to infantry and save the lives of our service members.
As previously reported, since the beginning of 2026, UGVs have performed over 100,000 frontline missions in place of Ukrainian military personnel.