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Ukrainian Armed Forces Adopt Modular D-21 UGV to Strengthen Their Logistical and Combat Missions.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense recently announced the official authorization and codification of the D-21 unmanned ground robotic system for use within the Armed Forces. This decision marks a significant step in integrating locally developed technologies into military operations. Designed by the Ukrainian defense industry, the D-21 is a strategic tool created to meet the complex demands of frontline operations.
This versatile robot is built to handle multiple roles, such as transporting supplies, evacuating casualties, and conducting reconnaissance or combat missions (Picture source: Mykhailo Fedorov)
The D-21 system is capable of carrying out various logistical missions, including transporting food, ammunition, and military equipment, as well as evacuating the wounded. Operable in both manual and automatic modes, it can follow a predetermined route at a set speed, offering great operational flexibility. Its command channel, specifically designed to resist electronic interference, allows operators to control the platform from a protected location, enhancing the safety of its deployment.
As a product of the Brave1 defense technology cluster, the D-21 represents technological evolution on the battlefield, where minimizing human casualties and improving operational efficiency are critical goals. This versatile robot is built to handle multiple roles, such as transporting supplies, evacuating casualties, and conducting reconnaissance or combat missions. Its rapid reconfiguration capabilities enable the integration of an automated turret armed with a machine gun within minutes, allowing it to engage targets remotely while minimizing risks to operators. Equipped with all-terrain tires and an electric motor, the system can navigate difficult terrain and travel up to 15-20 km in extreme battlefield conditions.
The D-21 has already demonstrated its effectiveness in combat, earning positive feedback from the Armed Forces. Plans are underway to integrate NATO-standard weaponry, enhance its resistance to enemy electronic warfare, and scale up production. Backed by an increased national defense budget in 2024, heavily allocated to unmanned ground vehicles, the D-21 reflects Ukraine's ambition to lead in this technological domain. Platforms like Brave1, which has funded over 140 projects, play a crucial role in this effort, highlighting systems like the Ratel-S and Skylab Sirko-S1 that complement the D-21's capabilities. These advancements strengthen Ukraine’s strategy of systematically incorporating UGVs into military operations while increasing operational autonomy and reducing human risk.
The D-21 also features a quiet electric motor and low-pressure all-terrain tires, enabling it to traverse rough terrain, mud, and shallow water obstacles. Even with punctured tires, the system can maintain functionality, making it particularly suited for challenging battlefield conditions.
One of the D-21's most innovative features is its modularity. It can be equipped with a remotely operated combat module armed with a machine gun, enabling it to perform fire support or direct engagement missions. This configuration has been successfully tested, receiving favorable evaluations from military units. According to Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, developers are working to integrate NATO-compliant weaponry and improve its resistance to electronic countermeasures, alongside efforts to scale up production to meet the growing demand of the Armed Forces.
This development is part of a broader initiative to modernize and strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities through local technologies. In addition to the D-21, the Ministry of Defense has authorized the Oncilla-Shturm, a domestically produced multipurpose armored vehicle. Together, these systems demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment to leveraging national expertise to address contemporary military challenges.
Unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) are becoming increasingly important in the Ukraine conflict, used by both sides for a variety of missions. The Ukrainian Armed Forces deploy UGVs for tasks such as reconnaissance, transporting ammunition, evacuating the wounded, and engaging enemy positions. For instance, UGVs armed with machine guns and drones designed to lay mines have been employed to destroy Russian military positions near Lyptsi, north of Kharkiv.
On the Russian side, combat UGVs such as the URAN-9, equipped with advanced target detection and tracking capabilities, have also been deployed. The increasing reliance on UGVs in this conflict aims to reduce human casualties by assigning dangerous missions to autonomous systems. This technology underscores the strategic shift toward using unmanned solutions to enhance efficiency and mitigate risk on the battlefield.