Ukraine is teaching NATO troops how ground robots work in war — and where they don't

Ukraine is utilizing a fleet of robots in their conflict against Russia, and their soldiers are instructing Western trainers on how they effectively employ these ground robots in combat situations. These lessons are being incorporated into NATO training, particularly at a base in Poland called Camp Jomsborg. At this training facility, a NATO-led multinational effort called Operation Legio is taking place, with Norwegian forces participating.

The Norwegian commander of Task Force Legio, Brigadier Atle Molde, stated that the Ukrainians are the ones teaching them about ground robots, rather than the other way around. As the robots play an increasingly significant role in Ukraine's operations, they are now included in the training exercises. Molde explained that the training environment at Camp Jomsborg is designed to closely mirror real battlefield conditions.

The lessons learned from these joint exercises are then shared with other Western militaries, including Norway, which is actively testing and investing in ground robots. While ground robots offer several advantages, such as carrying heavy gear and evading enemy fire, they can also have limitations in certain terrains. For instance, tall grass can obstruct their cameras, limiting their intelligence-gathering capabilities.

Norway is now learning when ground robots are useful and when they are not, based on their experiences with Ukrainian units. The ultimate goal is to gain valuable insights from Ukraine's expertise, rather than simply replicating their tactics. Molde emphasized that a potential conflict between NATO and Russia would likely be quite different from Ukraine's experience, primarily due to NATO's superior air forces.

The primary aim is not to prepare for the last war but to learn from Ukraine's successful and innovative choices in utilizing ground robots, while avoiding tactics that are solely based on Ukraine's context.