Latest news with #DaVinciWolvesBattalion
India.com
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Indian Defence Planners, Take Note! Ukraine Now Using Rifle-Wielding Robots To Battle Russia
New Delhi: While most armies are still figuring out how to use drones effectively, Ukraine has already moved to the next frontier – remote-controlled ground robots that carry rifles, hurl grenades and take the fight to Russian trenches without risking a single soldier's life. In what sounds straight out of a sci-fi thriller, Ukrainian soldiers are now deploying weaponised robots in combat zones to take on Russian forces head-on. These are not the humanoid machines of Hollywood dreams, but something far more practical and real. Mounted on wheels or tracks, some look like tripods with guns, while others are miniature tanks with automated grenade launchers strapped to their backs. Oleksandr Yabchanka, the head of robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, called the tech a 'game changer' for soldiers in the field. Business Insider has quoted him as saying that even the bravest infantry cannot keep firing under intense shelling but these robots can. Indian defence planners, take note. While India debates the use of quadcopters and kamikaze drones, Ukraine has leapt ahead – fielding an evolving arsenal of ground-based killer bots. And they are not prototypes sitting in hangars, these machines are being tested, refined and modified live on the battlefield. Yabchanka draws a wild comparison that makes the tech sound even more insane. He likens Ukraine's grenade-launching bots to the iconic weapon wielded by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, saying, 'They are somewhat similar, but slightly better.' One such killer bot is the Burya – a remote grenade-launching turret that can be mounted on a tripod or a small vehicle. Another recent addition is the D-21-12R, an indigenous robotic beast equipped with a US-made Browning .50 caliber machine gun. Approved in April by Ukraine's defence ministry, this machine could give nightmares to any enemy squad. But there is a catch. These war machines still face technical limitations. Russian jamming and direct hits can knock them offline – turning them into nothing more than expensive scrap metal. That is one reason why they have not so far been deployed in large numbers, though their battlefield effectiveness continues to improve. Lessons for India Ukraine's wartime innovation lab is like no other. Companies from Ukraine, Estonia and beyond are in a technological race to outsmart Russian forces. Estonian firm Milrem Robotics, for instance, has already supplied its THeMIS Unmanned Ground Vehicles to Ukraine. These rugged bots can haul supplies or launch attacks where human soldiers cannot go. Back home, this is a wake-up call. With India facing regular border stand-offs, especially with Pakistan and China, and gearing up for future conflicts in extreme terrains, why are not ground robots part of the military doctrine yet? Ukraine's battlefield data, gathered in real-time, proves that these robots are not sci-fi, they are survival tech. Yabchanka, who regularly liaises with developers from the frontlines, says the feedback loop between soldiers and engineers has become a major strength for Ukraine. 'What was relevant six months ago is already outdated,' he told the publication, stressing that Europe and the West must co-develop with Ukraine. As Ukraine continues to weaponise AI and automation, the question is no longer if but when countries like India will follow suit. Will Indian troops someday be supported by robotic gun crews on the icy heights of Ladakh or the dense jungles of the Northeast? If the Ukraine war is any indication, the next battle will not only be fought with muscle but with machines as well. And they have already started pulling the trigger.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's soldiers are giving robots guns and grenade launchers to fire at the Russians in ways even 'the bravest infantry' can't
Ukrainian soldiers are letting robots fire on the Russians, allowing them to stay further from danger. The robot can do things that can't be done "even by the bravest infantry," a soldier told BI. These ground robots can fire at the enemy from entrenched positions or on the move. Ukrainian soldiers are increasingly arming ground robots with rifles and other weapons, letting them fire at the Russians rather than putting themselves in harm's way. The robots are part of Ukraine's ongoing innovation race with Russia, a rush to develop new technology to fight back against Russia's invasion before the enemy can. Oleksandr Yabchanka, the head of the robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, told Business Insider that the value in these robots is that they can do the things that even Ukraine's most courageous soldiers cannot. Ukraine has long been pumping out aerial drones, and now an increasing number of companies in Ukraine and in partner nations are working on ground robots that can evacuate the wounded, transport and lay mines, explode in Russian positions, and even fire weapons at Russian targets. The tech isn't new to the war, but it's becoming more prolific. Used widely, this growing technology could be a significant boost for Ukraine; its population and military remain much smaller than Russia's, and it deals with inconsistent support from its international partners regularly. But Russia is working on the tech, too. The Ukrainian robots that shoot take different forms: some robots are fixed and look like a gun on stilts (effectively a turret), and then there are others that can move around, resembling a machine gun on top of a wheeled robot. When Ukraine's soldiers are in reinforced positions, like a trench, they typically have a gun post from which they fire machine guns and other weapons. The soldiers operating those weapons are extremely vulnerable to return fire, so gun crews take them in shifts. Russian soldiers see "where the fire is coming from," Yabchanka said of the Russians, and they attack the gun position with artillery, drones, or grenade launchers. With more robots, drones, and automated systems on the battlefield, soldiers can now have "exactly the same setting but with a robot there" instead of a human being that can be killed or injured. The soldier controls the robot, and the robot "can now do things that couldn't have been done before. Even by the bravest infantry people." For instance, it can continue firing even amid targeted enemy counterfire. He said that when most people picture a firing robot, they picture the Terminator from the films of the same name. Yabchanka said that the Ukrainians are getting the same combat capabilities without a bipedal robot with arms and legs. It is a remote-controlled turret, and it's effective. He said some of the robots are also automated grenade launchers rather than machine guns. He described them as "somewhat similar" to the handheld grenade launcher that Arnold Schwarzenegger had in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" but "slightly better." Ukraine's grenade-launching robots include the "Burya" model from Ukrainian company Frontline, which builds a remote grenade launcher turret that can be mounted on a tracked vehicle or a tripod. Ukraine is increasingly investing in mobile robots with weapons on board. Ukraine's defense ministry in April, for example, approved the use of the domestically made D-21-12R ground robotic complex, which is equipped with the US-made Browning .50-caliber machine gun. But Yabchanka shared that mobile firing robots are not being used at scale yet. They are "not yet working in a way that would have a massive effect along the touchline." Part of the reason their use is still limited is how hard it can be to keep the robots connected. Russian jamming or a physical attack on a moving robot could mean Ukraine loses the ability to control it, so it just becomes "an expensive pile of metal scrap." Ukraine is employing its robots in a growing number of ways, but Yabchanka described the firing function as "most complex in terms of implementation." Other functions like casualty evac are less complicated, though they're not without their own challenges and complexities when it comes to battlefield use. Robots are being used more and more, but not all units have access to them or use them in large numbers. Yabchanka said his unit has been "pioneering" in using the robots and that its pilots "share those experiences with other units." Again, the technology isn't new, but there is a growing realization that the tech, from robot dogs to crewless tracked vehicles, has potential. Many Western nations have been drawing lessons from the Ukraine war, and ground robots, which are also known as ground drones or uncrewed ground vehicles, are systems that countries are thinking carefully about. Ukrainian companies are innovating quickly, working in wartime conditions with a Ukrainian government that is supportive even with limited funds and many companies and types of technology to choose from. Many Western companies are making them, too, and some of them have products that are being used in Ukraine. Estonian robotic vehicle manufacturer Milrem Robotics, for instance, has its THeMIS Unmanned Ground Vehicles in Ukraine. Kuldar Väärsi, the company's CEO, told BI in May that the robots support Ukraine's military by going to the "positions where they don't want to send their troops" for attacks and for other functions like carrying equipment. He said that before companies like his were in Ukraine, "quite a lot of people were talking about unmanned ground vehicles in defense. But all that was very experimental and lots of doubts around it." While there are still some doubts and concerns about these systems, there is a recognition that UGVs have value. But he said this war has demonstrated that "unmanned ground vehicles have a really important place on the battlefield." Yabchanka said that in Ukraine, the robots are being constantly refined and modified, with soldiers making changes out on the front lines. They are in constant contact with Ukrainian developers about issues and updates they recommend. He urged Europe to work closely with Ukraine to develop its technology, as many officials in Europe warn that Russia may attack elsewhere on the continent. He said working with Ukrainian expertise is useful because they have real-time data, and "what was up to date and relevant half a year ago is not up to date and relevant anymore." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Ukraine's soldiers are giving robots guns and grenade launchers to fire at the Russians in ways even 'the bravest infantry' can't
Ukrainian soldiers are increasingly arming ground robots with rifles and other weapons, letting them fire at the Russians rather than putting themselves in harm's way. The robots are part of Ukraine's ongoing innovation race with Russia, a rush to develop new technology to fight back against Russia's invasion before the enemy can. Oleksandr Yabchanka, the head of the robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, told Business Insider that the value in these robots is that they can do the things that even Ukraine's most courageous soldiers cannot. Ukraine has long been pumping out aerial drones, and now an increasing number of companies in Ukraine and in partner nations are working on ground robots that can evacuate the wounded, transport and lay mines, explode in Russian positions, and even fire weapons at Russian targets. The tech isn't new to the war, but it's becoming more prolific. Used widely, this growing technology could be a significant boost for Ukraine; its population and military remain much smaller than Russia's, and it deals with inconsistent support from its international partners regularly. But Russia is working on the tech, too. The Ukrainian robots that shoot take different forms: some robots are fixed and look like a gun on stilts (effectively a turret), and then there are others that can move around, resembling a machine gun on top of a wheeled robot. Firing on the Russians When Ukraine's soldiers are in reinforced positions, like a trench, they typically have a gun post from which they fire machine guns and other weapons. The soldiers operating those weapons are extremely vulnerable to return fire, so gun crews take them in shifts. Russian soldiers see "where the fire is coming from," Yabchanka said of the Russians, and they attack the gun position with artillery, drones, or grenade launchers. With more robots, drones, and automated systems on the battlefield, soldiers can now have "exactly the same setting but with a robot there" instead of a human being that can be killed or injured. The soldier controls the robot, and the robot "can now do things that couldn't have been done before. Even by the bravest infantry people." For instance, it can continue firing even amid targeted enemy counterfire. He said that when most people picture a firing robot, they picture the Terminator from the films of the same name. Yabchanka said that the Ukrainians are getting the same combat capabilities without a bipedal robot with arms and legs. It is a remote-controlled turret, and it's effective. He said some of the robots are also automated grenade launchers rather than machine guns. He described them as "somewhat similar" to the handheld grenade launcher that Arnold Schwarzenegger had in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" but "slightly better." Ukraine's grenade-launching robots include the "Burya" model from Ukrainian company Frontline, which builds a remote grenade launcher turret that can be mounted on a tracked vehicle or a tripod. Ukraine is increasingly investing in mobile robots with weapons on board. Ukraine's defense ministry in April, for example, approved the use of the domestically made D-21-12R ground robotic complex, which is equipped with theUS-made Browning .50-caliber machine gun. But Yabchanka shared that mobile firing robots are not being used at scale yet. They are "not yet working in a way that would have a massive effect along the touchline." Part of the reason their use is still limited is how hard it can be to keep the robots connected. Russian jamming or a physical attack on a moving robot could mean Ukraine loses the ability to control it, so it just becomes "an expensive pile of metal scrap." Ukraine's robots Ukraine is employing its robots in a growing number of ways, but Yabchanka described the firing function as "most complex in terms of implementation." Other functions like casualty evac are less complicated, though they're not without their own challenges and complexities when it comes to battlefield use. Robots are being used more and more, but not all units have access to them or use them in large numbers. Yabchanka said his unit has been "pioneering" in using the robots and that its pilots "share those experiences with other units." Again, the technology isn't new, but there is a growing realization that the tech, from robot dogs to crewless tracked vehicles, has potential. Many Western nations have been drawing lessons from the Ukraine war, and ground robots, which are also known as ground drones or uncrewed ground vehicles, are systems that countries are thinking carefully about. Ukrainian companies are innovating quickly, working in wartime conditions with a Ukrainian government that is supportive even with limited funds and many companies and types of technology to choose from. Many Western companies are making them, too, and some of them have products that are being used in Ukraine. Estonian robotic vehicle manufacturer Milrem Robotics, for instance, has its THeMIS Unmanned Ground Vehicles in Ukraine. Kuldar Väärsi, the company's CEO, told BI in May that the robots support Ukraine's military by going to the "positions where they don't want to send their troops" for attacks and for other functions like carrying equipment. He said that before companies like his were in Ukraine, "quite a lot of people were talking about unmanned ground vehicles in defense. But all that was very experimental and lots of doubts around it." While there are still some doubts and concerns about these systems, there is a recognition that UGVs have value. But he said this war has demonstrated that "unmanned ground vehicles have a really important place on the battlefield." Yabchanka said that in Ukraine, the robots are being constantly refined and modified, with soldiers making changes out on the front lines. They are in constant contact with Ukrainian developers about issues and updates they recommend. He urged Europe to work closely with Ukraine to develop its technology, as many officials in Europe warn that Russia may attack elsewhere on the continent. He said working with Ukrainian expertise is useful because they have real-time data, and "what was up to date and relevant half a year ago is not up to date and relevant anymore."
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Drones in Ukraine show the way Western militaries are run is 'outdated,' UK warns
The war in Ukraine shows that the way Western militaries are run is outdated, a UK minister warned. Drones evolve so fast that "we have to fundamentally challenge our assumptions," Luke Pollard said. He was speaking at a summit of more than 100 drone companies, military officials, and ministers. The war in Ukraine has shown that the way Western militaries are run is "outdated" because of how fast battlefield tech like drones evolves, a defence minister has warned. Luke Pollard, the UK's armed forces minister, said Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion showed "the way we have run our militaries, the way we have run our defense, is outdated. And that is the case across the NATO alliance." Pollard said that drones had "shifted the tectonic plates of warfare," and the speed of their innovation showed how much faster procurement and innovation have to happen. Drone tech "iterates every two to three weeks on the front line" with a "fundamentally different" model, Pollard said Wednesday, adding, "That means we have to fundamentally challenge our assumptions about how we procure." He said that NATO militaries "build and procure really expensive high-end bits of kit. And it will take you five, 10 years: five years to run a procurement challenge, another 10 years to build it." "If we allow ourselves to be stuck in old-world thinking, we will not be providing the tech that Ukraine needs, we will not be providing the security that we need," Pollard added. Pollard was speaking at the Drone Summit, which brought together drone companies, military officials, and government ministers in Latvia, a NATO member bordering Russia. Drones have played a bigger role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine than in any other conflict in history, and have upended many traditional fighting rules by taking the place of some artillery and infantry. Cheap drones have also destroyed pieces of weaponry that are worth millions, like tanks and air defenses. Oleksandr Yabchanka, the head of the robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, which operates ground drones, told Business Insider in March: "What was up to date and relevant half a year ago is not up to date and relevant anymore." Pollard was echoing previous warnings that the West needs to change its approach to weaponry to fight an adversary like Russia. Military officials and warfare experts have warned that the West must amass a larger volume of cheaper weaponry and shift its focus away from fewer pieces of more advanced and expensive kit. In January, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte gave a similar warning, saying, "speed is of the essence, not perfection." Officials also questioned the value of some high-value weaponry in the face of drones. US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said earlier this month that the US can't keep developing and buying expensive weaponry that can be destroyed by far cheaper drones. Pollard told the summit that, with drones, there must be a change "that is built into all our procurements that says what we can buy and build and scale faster than we have done before." He said this change would be harder for larger companies, but there needs to be a startup-style culture for companies to "not go along with the guide rails and the rules of the game but to innovate based on what is working." Pollard said that, while a coalition of 18 countries had delivered tens of thousands of drones to Ukraine, the war shows how much more needs to be done. "Big numbers need sustainable supply chains that can scale up when wartime demand requires it. Our industrial bases across Europe, across the globe, must become as agile as the systems we seek to produce with our people as skilled as the operators who deploy them on the frontline of Ukraine," he said. The gathering saw repeated warnings that the West's work is not enough. Ruben Brekelmans, the Netherlands' defense minister, told the summit that, in much of Europe, "We are quite fast at developing drones, but we are not producing drones on a massive scale. And I think that's a step that we need to take." He added Ukraine's allies had to work together to achieve "mass production quite quickly, because Ukraine needs it. We need it as well." Many European countries have warned that they could be attacked next, and supply Ukraine not only to keep Russia's war machine occupied, but to test battlefield tech. Russia still has a large military, and it has kept some of its advanced equipment out of Ukraine and unscathed from the war. Many current and former Western military officials also warn that Russia's war machine is far more spun up than Western ones. "Russia has surpassed us technologically. And more dangerously, it has surpassed us in terms of speed and scale," Valerii Churkin, Ukraine's deputy defense minister, said at the summit. "The enemy moves faster than we do," he added. Churkin urged more collaboration, telling his country's European allies, "Ukraine is not just a recipient of aid. We are your test." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Drones in Ukraine show the way Western militaries are run is 'outdated,' UK warns
The war in Ukraine has shown that the way Western militaries are run is "outdated" because of how fast battlefield tech like drones evolves, a defence minister has warned. Luke Pollard, the UK's armed forces minister, said Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion showed "the way we have run our militaries, the way we have run our defense, is outdated. And that is the case across the NATO alliance." Pollard said that drones had "shifted the tectonic plates of warfare," and the speed of their innovation showed how much faster procurement and innovation have to happen. Drone tech "iterates every two to three weeks on the front line" with a "fundamentally different" model, Pollard said Wednesday, adding, "That means we have to fundamentally challenge our assumptions about how we procure." He said that NATO militaries "build and procure really expensive high-end bits of kit. And it will take you five, 10 years: five years to run a procurement challenge, another 10 years to build it." "If we allow ourselves to be stuck in old-world thinking, we will not be providing the tech that Ukraine needs, we will not be providing the security that we need," Pollard added. Pollard was speaking at the Drone Summit, which brought together drone companies, military officials, and government ministers in Latvia, a NATO member bordering Russia. Drones have played a bigger role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine than in any other conflict in history, and have upended many traditional fighting rules by taking the place of some artillery and infantry. Cheap drones have also , like tanks and air defenses. Oleksandr Yabchanka, the head of the robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, which operates ground drones, told Business Insider in March: "What was up to date and relevant half a year ago is not up to date and relevant anymore." Pollard was echoing previous warnings that the West needs to change its approach to weaponry to fight an adversary like Russia. Military officials and warfare experts have warned that the West must amass a larger volume of cheaper weaponry and shift its focus away from fewer pieces of more advanced and expensive kit. In January, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte gave a similar warning, saying, "speed is of the essence, not perfection." Officials also questioned the value of some high-value weaponry in the face of drones. US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said earlier this month that the US can't keep developing and buying expensive weaponry that can be destroyed by far cheaper drones. New rules Pollard told the summit that, with drones, there must be a change "that is built into all our procurements that says what we can buy and build and scale faster than we have done before." He said this change would be harder for larger companies, but there needs to be a startup-style culture for companies to "not go along with the guide rails and the rules of the game but to innovate based on what is working." Pollard said that, while a coalition of 18 countries had delivered tens of thousands of drones to Ukraine, the war shows how much more needs to be done. "Big numbers need sustainable supply chains that can scale up when wartime demand requires it. Our industrial bases across Europe, across the globe, must become as agile as the systems we seek to produce with our people as skilled as the operators who deploy them on the frontline of Ukraine," he said. Stark warnings The gathering saw repeated warnings that the West's work is not enough. Ruben Brekelmans, the Netherlands' defense minister, told the summit that, in much of Europe, "We are quite fast at developing drones, but we are not producing drones on a massive scale. And I think that's a step that we need to take." He added Ukraine's allies had to work together to achieve "mass production quite quickly, because Ukraine needs it. We need it as well." Many European countries have warned that they could be attacked next, and supply Ukraine not only to keep Russia's war machine occupied, but to test battlefield tech. Russia still has a large military, and it has kept some of its advanced equipment out of Ukraine and unscathed from the war. Many current and former Western military officials also warn that Russia's war machine is far more spun up than Western ones. "Russia has surpassed us technologically. And more dangerously, it has surpassed us in terms of speed and scale," Valerii Churkin, Ukraine's deputy defense minister, said at the summit. "The enemy moves faster than we do," he added. Churkin urged more collaboration, telling his country's European allies, "Ukraine is not just a recipient of aid. We are your test."
