Robots won’t replace armored vehicles, says Ukrainian company that builds both. It reveals one job they can’t do
Ukraine ran 100,000 robot missions this year.
Ukrainian company Ukr Armo Tech, which manufactures both robots and armored vehicles, has stated that robots will not replace armored vehicles on the battlefield. Ground robots are an innovative tool that helps Ukraine distribute risk more effectively, but they lack the capabilities of crewed armored vehicles, particularly in evacuating wounded soldiers under fire, according to Ukr Armo Tech CEO Hennadii Khirhii.
Ukraine faces a significant shortage of armored vehicles, ranging from evacuation carriers to tracked fighting vehicles, with a focus on heavy mine protection and electronic warfare. Medical-evacuation armor is in particular short supply, with some estimates suggesting a 80 percent deficit.
Khirhii emphasizes that robots are complementary, not substitutive. They can aid in tasks such as transporting ammunition and supplies to the front without endangering a crew, but evacuating the wounded is a different matter. Robotic ground vehicles (UGVs) are useful for carrying ammunition or food, but evacuating wounded personnel typically requires a protected medical vehicle.
UGVs do not cancel the need for armored vehicles, just as drones do not replace artillery. The company's CEO points out that ground robots are too slow and easily targeted, arguing that brigades still require staffed evacuation teams and light-armored vehicles.
The reality on the front lines is that robots should not replace armor but work alongside it. Khirhii stresses that the key is to employ a smart combination of machines for each mission, prioritizing people's safety and the practicality of the task. According to the CEO, Ukraine needs both armored vehicles and ground robots, and a substantial amount of both.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
