The Russia-Ukraine war has driven rapid innovation in ground-based military robots, which have shifted from primarily logistics roles to armed combat and tactical support.

Ukraine’s fleet includes foreign-supplied platforms like THeMIS and domestically produced systems such as the Targan-300 and armed Droid TW 12.7 robots, while Russia fields modular systems like the Courier and Omich, used for both supply and combat tasks.

Ground robots are increasingly integrated with air-based drones for reconnaissance and intelligence, with Ukraine deploying small robotic “scouts” behind enemy lines, while Russia likely uses similar integration for surveillance and deployment.

Both sides are also leveraging robots for engineering tasks, such as mine-laying, bridging operations, and demining, compensating for losses in personnel and equipment, Forbes has reported.

As the war continues, soldiers are innovating new uses for these systems, and technological advancements from the drone industry are expected to enhance autonomy, sensors, and battlefield capabilities, signaling a major expansion of ground robot operations.