Ukraine Takes Robotic Warfare Further with NATO‑Standard Grenade‑Armed UGV
Ukraine’s military has officially approved its first ground robot equipped to fire two key grenade launchers, marking a major step in modernizing its robotic combat capabilities.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Business Insider and Militarnyi.
The robot, called the Droid NW 40 and developed by DevDroid, has been adapted for the US-made Mk-19 40mm and Ukraine-made AGL-53 automatic grenade launchers.
This is the first time Ukraine has granted official authorization for a ground robot designed to operate such key weapons. The approval also confirms that the system meets NATO standards, allowing Ukrainian forces to integrate it fully into military operations.
Ground robots, or unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), are increasingly used to enhance Ukraine’s combat capabilities while keeping troops safer. They perform a range of functions including reconnaissance, firing at enemy positions, destroying Russian targets, and evacuating wounded soldiers.
It can run for up to 12 hours without a break, and its autonomous operation without movement can last up to 120 hours. With remote operation capabilities and a range of up to 0.9 miles, these robots allow Ukrainian operators to strike from a safer distance.
The system is designed to be modular, enabling soldiers to equip robots with different weapons, such as machine guns or grenade launchers, depending on the mission. Although ground robots have been used in Ukraine before, this is the first officially codified system adapted for the country’s most vital grenade launchers.
Business Insider has previously reported that alongside high‑tech systems, basic infantry weapons such as grenades play a key role in modern combat. In trench warfare and close‑quarters fighting, where opponents often clash just a few meters apart, grenades become indispensable for clearing fortified positions, defending ground, and ensuring soldiers’ survival. Veterans who fought in Ukraine have called them their “best friends” in the trenches, as they provide a critical advantage in chaotic and deadly encounters.
Ukraine’s experience shows that in modern warfare, it is precisely the combination of simple but effective weapons with new technologies that determines an army’s combat effectiveness.
As The Gaze informed earlier, servicemen of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade actively use ground-based robotic systems to deliver ammunition and evacuate the dead and wounded.
Read also on The Gaze: Ukraine’s War-Driven Defense Innovation