Ukrainian front-line units are testing anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launchers (RPGs) on ground robots, aiming to retain close-range firepower while keeping operators farther from danger. Oleg Fedoryshyn, research and development director at Ukrainian robotics maker DevDroid, said changing battlefield conditions have made it harder for soldiers to carry and use the weapons safely.
Drone coverage is changing how RPGs are used
RPGs have long been used against armored vehicles and to support infantry attacks on fortified positions. But parts of the Ukrainian front are now covered by dense drone and weapons activity, creating what is often called a “kill zone” that can extend up to 50 kilometers deep. Even moving within an RPG’s effective range can put soldiers at significant risk.
Fedoryshyn said it is difficult for troops to find a way to use RPGs in this environment without exposing themselves. Mounting a launcher on a ground robot allows the platform to approach a target and fire while its operator remains at a greater distance.
The shift reflects broader changes in ground combat. Early in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, infantry commonly used RPGs against Russian tanks and other vehicles, as well as in urban fighting. The widespread use of low-cost drones for reconnaissance and strikes has since constrained armored vehicles’ movement and changed how infantry engagements are conducted.
DevDroid and Temerland expand robot weapon options
Fedoryshyn said troops using DevDroid systems have begun testing RPGs on robots originally equipped with machine guns. One brigade approached the company about testing the setup, which he described as producing “very good” results. DevDroid is now looking at how to make the capability available to more users.
Other Ukrainian ground-robot makers are pursuing similar configurations. Temerland says its Gnom-VP fire-support platform can carry two RPG-7 launchers, alongside other weapon options and the ability to lay mines. Weapons mounted on Ukrainian robotic platforms also include flamethrowers, grenade launchers and machine guns.
DevDroid also makes ground robots, remote weapon stations and electric triggers that let operators control weapons from a safer distance. Requests from front-line units are a major source of equipment changes: manufacturers work directly with troops and adapt systems based on field feedback.
DevDroid says it can deploy updates within a week
Fedoryshyn said DevDroid provides round-the-clock chat support to units using its systems. The company can design an update, have a brigade test it and deploy it across all active systems within a week. He said the equipment is designed to be updated in a way similar to a phone or operating system.
He also said soldiers sometimes use the robots in unexpected ways, including instances in which Russian troops surrendered to Ukrainian ground robots. For defense manufacturers, quickly gathering front-line feedback and iterating on equipment has become part of adapting to changing battlefield conditions.
Low-cost robots enter the procurement debate
The shift in Ukrainian battlefield equipment is not simply about replacing older weapons. It also involves changing how weapons are carried so they can be used in new combat conditions. Mounting RPGs on ground robots is one example of moving weapons traditionally carried by soldiers onto uncrewed platforms.
Fedoryshyn said Ukraine’s experience suggests Western militaries preparing for prolonged conflict should consider buying large numbers of relatively inexpensive, replaceable robots rather than relying only on costly tanks and armored vehicles. Their continued usefulness will depend on how they are deployed, whether weapons can be integrated effectively and how front-line units use them.