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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A company on Russia's doorstep that sent its war robots to Ukraine got a crash course in what soldiers need
A European defense firm's ground robots are being used by Ukrainian soldiers. The experiences there have led to key changes in its products, the Milrem Robotics' CEO told BI. He said Europe's militaries should be learning from Ukraine's fight in case Russia attacks. A military robotics company based in a NATO country bordering Russia says battlefield use of its machines in Ukraine provided valuable insight that led it to rethink its technology and how it could better meet wartime demands. Estonia's Milrem Robotics makes autonomous ground robots that can be used to gather intelligence, evacuate wounded troops, dispose of explosive devices, and carry weaponry like machine guns. Its THeMIS model, which can carry a payload of up to 2,645.5 pounds and travel at up to 12 miles per hour, is in Ukraine, clearing mines, carrying cargo, and moving out injured soldiers. Kuldar Väärsi, the founder and CEO of Milrem Robotics, told Business Insider that Western weapons makers and militaries need to be learning from what's happening in Ukraine and that the company's experiences there have led to some changes in its products. Väärsi said that developments in Ukraine are "totally different" from peacetime, when weapons are used in training and exercises. The company has been closely watching for ways to make its robots better, both to help Ukraine and to help Europe if needed. One key area has been the simplicity of use. He said the THeMIS was "already quite simple and very easy system to control," but the needs on the battlefield meant it had to be even simpler. He said that in peacetime, equipment might only be used by experienced troops with training. "In Ukraine, in real war, you can't follow that," Väärsi said. "Basically, anybody who needs that equipment will use it, and the more intuitive and simple you make the user interface and you make the usability, the more certain you can be that actually it'll be properly used and efficiently used and it'll be useful for the troops." The electronic warfare battle in Ukraine, in which both sides are jamming and spoofing everything — drones, comms, GPS, and more— has also sparked big changes in uncrewed systems technology. "What we have learned and changed and implemented in our systems is everything related to EW, communication, and cyber," the Milrem CEO said. Evolutions in countermeasures like electronic warfare have led to developments like fiber-optic drones and AI-enabled drones that are resistant to enemy jamming. "What we can see as a trend in Ukraine is that technologies around communication change basically weekly," Väärsi said, referring to the combat systems that rely heavily on stable signals. The feedback from Ukraine means "we have changed quite significantly our design and our products," he said. Väärsi said the company was "very eager" to provide its systems to Ukraine it is based in Estonia, a country once part of the Soviet Union like Ukraine and a current Russian neighbor worried about the possibility of an attack on its sovereignty. Estonia is among the biggest defense spenders in NATO as a proportion of GDP and one of the countries sounding the alarm the loudest about Russia. "It's our mission to support Ukraine as much as we can, to help them win this war. And even if it's as little as sending our vehicles, then we should certainly do it," Väärsi said. He said it's a good business move, too. "If you look at it from the validation perspective, the equipment which doesn't justify itself in Ukraine, why should that be even necessary?" Milrem was founded in 2013, and Väärsi said that before this war, "quite a lot of people were talking about unmanned ground vehicles in defense," but there were also "lots of doubts around it." This war "has demonstrated that unmanned ground vehicles have a really important place on the battlefield," he said. Many Western governments want their countries' battlefield technology in Ukraine so companies can learn how best to be ready for any potential conflict with Russia — something many European countries warn could happen. It's something many Western defense companies want too. Their products can be battle-tested and updated, proving their worth and increasing sales. Luke Pollard, the UK's armed forces minister, said last month: "If you are a drone company and you do not have your kit on the front line in Ukraine, you might as well give up." Väärsi said that Milrem Robotics has a team that regularly visits Ukraine, meets military units, and works directly with the operators who use the company's equipment. It will also soon have a team based in Ukraine to "be closer to Ukrainian forces and to support them even better," he shared. Many companies work closely with soldiers to aid development. A Ukrainian drone operator previously told BI that he texts and FaceTimes with drone makers about their products to encourage a better iterative design and development process. Ground robots are particularly useful on the battlefield because they can be used to move a lot more weight than the flying drones and often more than humans can, fire from positions that are not safe for soldiers to fight from, and travel closer to Russian positions than any human fighter can safely. Väärsi said he sees the robots' role "as a first line of defense or offense," keeping troops safer. That benefits Ukraine, which doesn't have manpower to spare. "You don't move your troops in front, but you move your unmanned systems," he said. Väärsi noted Ukraine, which has a rapidly growing defense industry, has also developed a "very capable" ground robots industry. It's a technology the West and others as well are looking at more and more. Germany's ARX Robotics opened Europe's largest production facility for ground military robots this year, and companies across the continent are making new models. Milrem is playing a leading role, heading a consortium developing unmanned ground systems that received $56 million in funding from the European Defense Fund. Its robots are capable platforms that Russian researchers actually put a bounty on, encouraging soldiers to try to steal one to advance Russia's work in this space. The company's other products include larger combat vehicles, like HAVOC, which has a payload capacity of 5 tons. It also has an AI-enabled intelligent functions kit, which lets the vehicles move autonomously. It says that its products are part of robotics programs or in service in 19 countries, including the US, UK, and Germany. Ground robots are one of many things Ukraine's international partners are watching closely as they look into what sort of tactics, weaponry, and so on they should adopt. Milrem collaborates with companies that are in Ukraine, and Väärsi encouraged other foreign defense companies to do the same. "What I consider very important is that in Europe we need to learn and very seriously learn what is ongoing in Ukraine: what works, what doesn't work, what mindsets need to be shifted to be better equipped if — hopefully that never happens — but if Russia decides to expand their activities in the warfare." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
9 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
A company on Russia's doorstep that sent its war robots to Ukraine got a crash course in what soldiers need
A European defense firm's ground robots are being used by Ukrainian soldiers. The experiences there have led to key changes in its products, the Milrem Robotics' CEO told BI. He said Europe's militaries should be learning from Ukraine's fight in case Russia attacks. A military robotics company based in a NATO country bordering Russia says battlefield use of its machines in Ukraine provided valuable insight that led it to rethink its technology and how it could better meet wartime demands. Estonia 's Milrem Robotics makes autonomous ground robots that can be used to gather intelligence, evacuate wounded troops, dispose of explosive devices, and carry weaponry like machine guns. Its THeMIS model, which can carry a payload of up to 2,645.5 pounds and travel at up to 12 miles per hour, is in Ukraine, clearing mines, carrying cargo, and moving out injured soldiers. Kuldar Väärsi, the founder and CEO of Milrem Robotics, told Business Insider that Western weapons makers and militaries need to be learning from what's happening in Ukraine and that the company's experiences there have led to some changes in its products. Väärsi said that developments in Ukraine are "totally different" from peacetime, when weapons are used in training and exercises. The company has been closely watching for ways to make its robots better, both to help Ukraine and to help Europe if needed. One key area has been the simplicity of use. He said the THeMIS was "already quite simple and very easy system to control," but the needs on the battlefield meant it had to be even simpler. He said that in peacetime, equipment might only be used by experienced troops with training. "In Ukraine, in real war, you can't follow that," Väärsi said. "Basically, anybody who needs that equipment will use it, and the more intuitive and simple you make the user interface and you make the usability, the more certain you can be that actually it'll be properly used and efficiently used and it'll be useful for the troops." The electronic warfare battle in Ukraine, in which both sides are jamming and spoofing everything — drones, comms, GPS, and more— has also sparked big changes in uncrewed systems technology. "What we have learned and changed and implemented in our systems is everything related to EW, communication, and cyber," the Milrem CEO said. Evolutions in countermeasures like electronic warfare have led to developments like fiber-optic drones and AI-enabled drones that are resistant to enemy jamming. "What we can see as a trend in Ukraine is that technologies around communication change basically weekly," Väärsi said, referring to the combat systems that rely heavily on stable signals. The feedback from Ukraine means "we have changed quite significantly our design and our products," he said. Väärsi said the company was "very eager" to provide its systems to Ukraine it is based in Estonia, a country once part of the Soviet Union like Ukraine and a current Russian neighbor worried about the possibility of an attack on its sovereignty. Estonia is among the biggest defense spenders in NATO as a proportion of GDP and one of the countries sounding the alarm the loudest about Russia. "It's our mission to support Ukraine as much as we can, to help them win this war. And even if it's as little as sending our vehicles, then we should certainly do it," Väärsi said. He said it's a good business move, too. "If you look at it from the validation perspective, the equipment which doesn't justify itself in Ukraine, why should that be even necessary?" Milrem was founded in 2013, and Väärsi said that before this war, "quite a lot of people were talking about unmanned ground vehicles in defense," but there were also "lots of doubts around it." This war "has demonstrated that unmanned ground vehicles have a really important place on the battlefield," he said. Learning from Ukraine Many Western governments want their countries' battlefield technology in Ukraine so companies can learn how best to be ready for any potential conflict with Russia — something many European countries warn could happen. It's something many Western defense companies want too. Their products can be battle-tested and updated, proving their worth and increasing sales. Luke Pollard, the UK's armed forces minister, said last month:"If you are a drone company and you do not have your kit on the front line in Ukraine, you might as well give up." Väärsi said that Milrem Robotics has a team that regularly visits Ukraine, meets military units, and works directly with the operators who use the company's equipment. It will also soon have a team based in Ukraine to "be closer to Ukrainian forces and to support them even better," he shared. Many companies work closely with soldiers to aid development. A Ukrainian drone operator previously told BI that he texts and FaceTimes with drone makers about their products to encourage a better iterative design and development process. Robots of the future Ground robots are particularly useful on the battlefield because they can be used to move a lot more weight than the flying drones and often more than humans can, fire from positions that are not safe for soldiers to fight from, and travel closer to Russian positions than any human fighter can safely. Väärsi said he sees the robots' role "as a first line of defense or offense," keeping troops safer. That benefits Ukraine, which doesn't have manpower to spare. "You don't move your troops in front, but you move your unmanned systems," he said. Väärsi noted Ukraine, which has a rapidly growing defense industry, has also developed a "very capable" ground robots industry. It's a technology the West and others as well are looking at more and more. Germany's ARX Robotics opened Europe's largest production facility for ground military robots this year, and companies across the continent are making new models. Milrem is playing a leading role, heading a consortium developing unmanned ground systems that received $56 million in funding from the European Defense Fund. Its robots are capable platforms that Russian researchers actually put a bounty on, encouraging soldiers to try to steal one to advance Russia's work in this space. The company's other products include larger combat vehicles, like HAVOC, which has a payload capacity of 5 tons. It also has an AI-enabled intelligent functions kit, which lets the vehicles move autonomously. It says that its products are part of robotics programs or in service in 19 countries, including the US, UK, and Germany. Ground robots are one of many things Ukraine's international partners are watching closely as they look into what sort of tactics, weaponry, and so on they should adopt. Milrem collaborates with companies that are in Ukraine, and Väärsi encouraged other foreign defense companies to do the same. "What I consider very important is that in Europe we need to learn and very seriously learn what is ongoing in Ukraine: what works, what doesn't work, what mindsets need to be shifted to be better equipped if — hopefully that never happens — but if Russia decides to expand their activities in the warfare."
The Print
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
Estonia courting India with eye on strategic tech ties, from robotics to cybersecurity & AI
The Baltic European nation of 1.3 million people, which is set to increase its defence investment to 5.4 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2026, is moving forward in areas such as unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and other tools, which could potentially be of interest to the Indian military. Estonian officials—from defence to foreign affairs ministries—are focusing on building ties with India, drawing on their over 18 years of experience in countering Russian cyber attacks as a model for their engagement with New Delhi. Tallinn: Estonia is looking to strengthen cooperation with India in a range of strategic technologies, from unmanned vehicles for the Indian armed forces to cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Kaimo Kuusk, Estonia's Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, said cooperating with India is essential due to the 'shared values' between New Delhi and Tallinn such as India's adherence to international law and its democratic traditions. 'We need to cooperate between the countries that share the values. We definitely will not accept any violence. When we are talking about changing the borders, we are not accepting terrorism as a tool. So countries that are clicking all those boxes, yes, we are on the same understanding, should cooperate more together,' Kuusk told ThePrint. Estonia regained its independence with the fall of the USSR in 1991, and has since joined the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The country is home to NATO's Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence and has many cybersecurity firms, including CybExer and CR-14, both of which provide cyber ranges for training cybersecurity forces across the world. Also read: Estonia to India—e-voting resulted in efficient elections, faster counting. But how safe is it Unmanned ground vehicles & robotics One area where Estonia has seen considerable growth in recent years is robotics, specifically unmanned ground vehicles. Estonia's Milrem Robotics, a market leader for light unmanned ground vehicles unveiled THeMIS, its advanced multi-role defence platform a few years ago. The platform has since been deployed by the Ukrainian forces on the frontline and has also attracted interest from the Indian military. Around 15 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) are currently deployed in Ukraine, which has been defending its territory from Russia for more than 3 years. They are used for casualty evacuation and logistics on the frontlines of Eastern Ukraine. The platform is currently under trial in around 20 countries. THeMIS, was showcased in India at the Defence Expo 2022 by Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), in partnership with Milrem. 'So, I think they [Indian Army] have seen how they're being used in the battlefields of Ukraine and this has caused them to accelerate their thinking. I think they've always had a longer-term view about adopting unmanned ground vehicles, but that has just been brought forward slightly,' Paul Clayton, the Industrial Partnership Director at Milrem Robotics told ThePrint. 'And I think they're looking at various different sizes and scales of vehicles to be able to link up and be compatible with different elements of the armed forces,' he added. 'We are absolutely clear that if we're going to get into the Indian market, we need a very good Indian partner to be working with. And we would see all of our manufacturing going on in India and that's what we're exploring at the moment, which is exciting.' Milrem is looking at building its vehicles in India with a local partner, given the potential market—the Indian armed forces—is 'very large', Clayton said. The firm is also developing several models, which could be of interest to the Indian military, including larger unmanned ground vehicles, weighing 20 tonnes with speeds up to 100 km per hour. 'That's very suited to your mechanised and motorised forces. We've got an 8×8 vehicle, we've got another one which is tracked, which are both in development at the moment and those would fit in very well with your infantry and armoured formations in the future,' said Clayton. Estonian firms such as 5.0 Robotics are also looking to expand to the Indian market, with their field manufacturing systems that are capable of building or repairing parts needed for military equipment close to the frontlines. The war between Russia and Ukraine has pushed Estonia's technology sector into building dual-use products, but its small size forces its companies to look abroad for markets. '[We have] selected 20 priority markets for exports and FDI…and India, of course, is one of them. In each of these 20 countries, we select focus sectors,' Priit Kallakas, Director General of Economic Diplomacy at Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told an Indian media delegation last week. 'In the Indian case, the focus sectors are everything related to ICT. Then there is defence, and also energy and food,' he added. Cyber security Estonia is famous for its e-governance systems, as a result of which cybersecurity has become an integral part of its national security strategy. Around 99 percent of all Estonian government services are available digitally, which has resulted in Tallinn and private companies in Estonia focusing on building adequate security infrastructure. In April 2007, the Baltic state faced repeated denial-of-service incidents, shutting down its government websites, following its decision to move a Soviet-era war memorial from the centre of Tallinn. The attacks, which officials have said likely emanated from Moscow, were the first instance of a nation's cyber systems coming under attack by foreign actors. In recent years, cyber attacks have become common across the globe, with reports of Indian government websites coming under attack during Operation Sindoor earlier this month. Estonia has, for the past 18 years, been building its capacity to mitigate cyber attacks. In 2023, India's National Security Council and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) partnered with the private Estonian company CybExer to build a 'cyber range'. The range was used for five days to simulate consistent attacks against India's cyber infrastructure, and over 1,500 teams participated in the exercise. 'So I would also now, maybe on the bilateral [ties] between Estonia and India, mention a few things. We had a very good historic meeting between our President Karis and Prime Minister Modi that was during this AI Summit in Paris [in February], so very relatable to the topics we just spoke about. And of course, the e-governance, cyber and digital security issues were also talked about in the agenda,' Minna-Liina Lind, the Vice-Minister for Global Affairs in Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Indian media last week. The Vice-Minister added: 'And we have already established quite a good bilateral contact on this. I know that my colleague, our Cyber Ambassador [Tanel Sepp], is also often in touch, and also we have these consultations happening both here and in India. And we have three new agreements in the defense industry, since only in the past year, which have been concluded.' (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: 'India should use its growing power to push Russia to end aggression in Ukraine'—Estonian PM
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
France to purchase and send robotic mine clearance systems to Ukraine
Ukraine will soon receive new robotic equipment for mine clearance, financed by France. The French company CNIM Systèmes Industriels, in cooperation with the Estonian company Milrem Robotics, will deliver six ROCUS uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) based on the THeMIS platform to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Source: Oboronka, a project of Mezha Media, a technology and IT news platform within Ukrainska Pravda's holding company, citing a press release by Milrem Robotics Quote from Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics: "We are proud to continue to support Ukraine through the contract with CNIM Systèmes Industriels. THeMIS UGVs have already proven their versatility and reliability in various operational scenarios in Ukraine and elsewhere." Details: The French ROCUS system integrates a special CNIM demining module on the Estonian THeMIS platform, which is a tracked autonomous ground vehicle. Due to the remote control, operators can clear areas of explosive items without putting themselves at risk. Technologically, the THeMIS platform is equipped with sensors and cameras to detect landmines and other threats, while the demining module allows for their safe neutralisation. The system is capable of operating in difficult conditions, such as rough terrain or rubble, making it indispensable for infrastructure restoration. Stock Photo Ukraine has received 15 THeMIS platforms, including the first seven ROCUS units delivered in 2022. The new vehicles will help ensure safe access to roads and agricultural land and contribute to the recovery of areas affected by the combat actions. Ukraine's State Emergency Service will be the main operator of these systems, using them for humanitarian mine clearance and recovery of territories. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Zawya
22-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Thales, Milrem Robotics and EM&E Group sign a MoU for strategic cooperation in the United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Milrem Robotics, the world's leading robotics and autonomous systems developer, EM&E Group, a prominent defence technology provider, and Thales in Belgium, a subsidiary of Thales a global tech leader in defence, aerospace and cyber have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly address commercial cooperation in the United Arab Emirates. This MoU provides a framework that focuses on joint innovation and robotics capability integration projects. One of the main goals of this partnership is to integrate EM&E Group's SECUTOR Remote Weapon Station together with Thales in Belgium's 70mm rocket systems into Milrem Robotics' THeMIS modular unmanned ground vehicle. This integration will enhance the operational capabilities of this platform, making it more versatile and suited to meet the specific needs of the UAE, particularly in terms of drones countermeasures (C-UAS). This system will be displayed by the EDGE Group at IDEX 2025, which will be held in Abu Dhabi from 17-21 February. The agreement also outlines opportunities for further collaborative development projects that combine the expertise of all three parties to advance cutting-edge defence solutions. 'Milrem Robotics, EM&E Group, and Thales in Belgium share a vision of leveraging our combined technological strengths to address the evolving needs for robotic systems and to build efficient defence capabilities. Through this partnership, we aim to drive innovation, strengthen regional security, and contribute to the UAE's defence and technological capabilities', said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. 'We are excited to enter into this strategic partnership, bringing together cutting-edge technologies to meet defence needs in a rapidly evolving landscape. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing security and technological excellence, in keeping with the UAE's vision for innovation in defence', said Alain Quevrin, CEO of Thales in Belgium. 'It is an honour to participate in this strategic project, which will bring together the capabilities and technologies necessary for the development of a cutting-edge system such as the Secutor Rocket. This agreement reflects our shared commitment to respond to the needs of the ever-changing Defence sector', said Javier Escribano, President of EM&E Group. About THALES Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cybersecurity & Digital identity. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive. The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G. Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of €18.4 billion. Contacts Thales, Regional Communications & Government Relations Director Tarek Solimane
