European robotics and autonomous systems developer, Milrem Robotics, and German defence company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) have announced the signing of a contract to deliver 14 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to Ukraine.
The German Ministry of Defence has funded the UGV deployment.
The UGVs are ground-based armed drone vehicles and were designed largely for military applications.
Of the 14 vehicles, seven will reportedly be used for casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) purposes, with delivery expected by the end of 2022.
The other seven vehicles are set for delivery by Q2 of 2023, and are intended for route clearance with payloads from French defence manufacturer CNIM Systèmes Industriels.
What’s more, Milrem Robotics has already delivered one CASEVAC THeMIS to a Ukrainian charity this year, which it claims has proven to be a valuable asset.
“The deployment of the THeMIS UGV to Ukraine means that the Ukrainian forces can increase the safety of their soldiers and let the UGVs handle tasks that are an immediate threat to humans,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.
“That is the ultimate purpose of robotic systems.”
Milrem Robotics claims the the THeMIS UGV has already been used in 16 different countries, including eight NATO members: Estonia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the UK and the US.