Ukraine and Estonia to build new generation robotic defense systems
Ukraine and Estonia to jointly produce THeMIS Combat robotic vehicles (Photo: milremrobotics.com)
Ukroboronprom and Milrem Robotics, an Estonian manufacturer of robotic platforms, signed an agreement to launch the development of a new generation of multi-domain robotic defense systems, according to Milrem Robotics.
It is noted that the agreement was signed during the First International Defense Industries Forum DFNC1, which took place on September 29 in Kyiv.
The first step of the agreement is to establish strategic cooperation to determine the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the use of robotic platforms on the battlefield. Subsequently, the Estonian company will integrate the combat experience of our military into the systems already available to Milrem Robotics, as well as create new products.
Ukrainian defense manufacturers will be involved in the process. Among the products that will be adapted for the Estonian manufacturer's platforms are variants with weapons systems, electronic warfare, and mine clearance systems.
Drones and wheeled robotic vehicles
Milrem Robotics is also considering the possibility of producing several different unmanned platforms from the Estonian manufacturer in Ukraine, as well as engineering cooperation in the development of a wheeled combat robotic vehicle.
Among the platforms, the Estonians primarily mention THeMIS Combat, a fire support vehicle that can be equipped with a machine gun, 40-mm grenade launchers, 30-mm automatic cannons, or anti-tank missile systems.
In addition, there is a Combat Engineering version of the vehicle designed for mine detection and demining, as well as a variant of the robotic platform for medical evacuation (CASEVAC).
In addition to the THeMIS platform, the Estonian company also has a Type-X combat platform that can be equipped with guns of various calibers (up to 50 mm) or a barrage launcher.
Delivery of Estonian combat vehicles to Ukraine
In September 2022, a batch of THeMIS unmanned tracked armored personnel carriers manufactured by Milrem Robotics arrived in Ukraine. In total, Estonia has supplied 15 units of these vehicles to our country.
Subsequently, Milrem Robotics and the German defense company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) signed a contract to supply 14 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to Ukraine.
In June 2023, Germany handed over seven THeMIS-tracked unmanned platforms to Ukraine to protect it from Russian aggression.
