Ukraine’s Defence Forces conducted over 9,000 combat and logistical missions using unmanned ground vehicles in March, continuing a rapid expansion in the use of ground robots on the front line, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.
The figure represents a significant increase from the 2,900 UGV missions recorded in November 2025 and the 7,500 carried out in January 2026. In total, nearly 24,500 missions have been conducted using ground robots in the first three months of this year, according to data tracked through Ukraine’s DELTA combat management system.
The ministry said UGVs are now employed across a wide range of frontline tasks, including the delivery of ammunition, logistical support, and casualty evacuation, with the aim of replacing personnel in exposed roles wherever possible.
The number of military units actively using UGVs has also grown sharply, rising from 67 in November 2025 to 167 in March. The top five units by completed UGV missions last month were the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, the 1st Separate Medical Battalion, the Unmanned Systems Company of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade, the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade, and the 3rd Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian MoD said it has made the transition of frontline logistics to unmanned ground vehicles a priority in order to reduce risks to personnel. The DELTA system allows units to plan logistics and evacuation missions, with results verified and reports generated automatically upon completion.
Ukraine also operates an incentive programme to encourage the adoption of new technologies. Under the Army of Drones Bonus programme, military units earn points for drone strikes, reconnaissance missions, and UGV operations, with additional categories recently introduced for sniper operations, mobile fire groups, and army aviation.
It does seem very strange to me that while the Navy and RAF are rapidly replacing manned platforms with unmanned drones the army is suspiciously lacking any actual working units. It has lots of nice power points and some vague talk of having systems by 2035 all while it’s cunning plan for the future is to put a sensor mast on a 40 tonne ten million pound armoured box with vibration issues.
For a small, well funded, technologically advanced military like ours UGV’s seem like a no brainer. Ukraine is already using them to replace infantry in holding the front line reducing the need for large numbers of infantry to maintain contact across the front line.
Our Army should restructure and have dedicated FPV and UGV reconnaissance and strike units
I know they are very slowly trying!
But as for UGVs, their use is also just as revolutionary for doing reconnaissance, resupply, mine laying, FPV mothership, helping with the defence of positions, and offensive support, bombing attacks, and is really well used for casualty extraction
Operating day and night as well
We just need to wake up, but the armed forces are in deep doo-doo!
It needs to be done from grass roots within each Brigade
Give them the flexibility to do things
The enemy is adapting whilst we faff about
John, this has to be the future. Reliance on humans in battlefield conditions is rapidly becoming unfashionable in modern societies, and robotics is the way forward. Not only do casualties diminish, but the speed of battlefield events could also increase. Your suggestions are possibly the way tactics will develop, and the British Army needs to be ahead of the curve on this one.
When you see russian soldiers surrendering, and positions held and regained by FPVs and UGVs
Saving resources and potentially human lives! Then it’s time to follow
I list the Army as having bought 15 Mission Master UGVs for various trials with 2 Yorks.
I still recall the “Future Force 2035” when the CGS was talking of an entire Corps of UGVs mixed with conventional manned assets.
I love how one review and force structure is obsolete before it is even implemented as another takes its place – Future Army Structures – Future Soldier – Future Soldier Refine, Future Force 2035, and on and on.
Meanwhile, we still cannot put all the Brigades we have in the field as some lack the basic CS CSS to make them fully deployable formations and one has to rob elsewhere to fit them out.
So it is all talk?
Or will the DIP announce 10,000 Mission Master and Squadrons of UGV mixed in with existing formations? The Armoured Regiments apparently are forming “Find and Strike” Sqns using Ajax Troop, Boxers, and Javelin teams with hand held Drones. Where are the UGVs?
Well the British Army have been working with the developers of the Viking UGV for nearly ten years but still have only bought a handful of prototypes 🤦🏻♂️
An upgraded version is being revealed at a forthcoming event so maybe 🤞🏻
Not surprising they’re using them for logistic deliveries. UAVs hunt for targets within 10km of the front-line on both sides, with troops abandoning vehicles and walking to and from the front.
Fascinating Spock😉
Yep, Ukraine has a 10–15 km deep zone and hits everything that enters
And is already responsible for hitting 1 in 4 enemy targets before reaching Ukrainian positions
So the UGVs on the ground can get plenty of freedom to do their task
Many brigades now have UGV logistics as a standard, not trials!