Russo-Ukrainian War: The DevDroid Droid NW 40 UGV

Source: @drone_wars_ on Instagram

     The Russo-Ukrainian War is seeing more and more the usage of UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) by not only the Ukrainian military but the Russian Federation as well. The majority are used for logistical missions and even casualty evacuation while some UGVs are utilized on area denial operations (by laying mines), support of aerial UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) sorties (as relay transmitters and/or electronic warfare platforms), and as seen here, equipped with weapons to support units in the field. The particular model pictured is what looks to be a prototype Droid NW 40, designed by the Ukrainian company DevDroid. That this is not the production Droid NW 40 is because the chassis is that of the Droid TW 12.7, another UGV offered by DevDroid which is equipped with a Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machine-gun. Here, the armament system for the Droid NW 40 has been fitted for testing purposes.

     The Droid NW 40 is billed as a reconnaissance-strike UGV designed to engage light armored targets, soft-skin vehicles (meaning unarmored), infantry, defensive positions, and battlefield reconnaissance. To engage such target types, the Droid NW 40 is fitted with either the Ukrainian produced AGL-53 or the U.S. military's Mk.19 automatic grenade launcher. The latter have been in use by Ukrainian troops, having been supplied by Canada and the United States. Both fire the NATO standard 40x53mm grenade. In the photograph, the weapon is the AGL-53. For some of the grenade types available, see the link below about the Repkon Defence RDS-40 which lists out some of the more common munitions.

     The Droid NW 40 platform allows for a maximum firing range of .9 of a mile (1.5 kilometers). A total of 48 rounds of ammunition is carried in a can to the left of the weapon. Specific performance data on the AGL-53 isn't known but likely is similar to the Mk.19 with a 300 to 400 round per minute rate of fire. With no ability for the Droid NW 40 to be reloaded with ammunition without the UGV returning to its support base, the operator can fire single-shot or fire in very brief bursts. The combat module mounting permits a total of 270 degrees of traverse, maximum elevation of 65 degrees, and a maximum depression of 5 degrees. The combat module can rotate and elevate/depress 100 degrees every second. The operator manually aims and fires the grenade launcher or aiming can be conducted by entering coordinates. In the latter mode, the aiming tabulations will be calculated so that the grenade launcher can be aimed in order to strike the designated target.

     Power comes from an electric motor though DevDroid does not provide a maximum speed for the Droid NW 40 in their literature. The Droid TW 12.7 has a top speed of 4.3 miles per hour so the Droid NW 40 is likely in the same range. The Droid NW 40 has a maximum operational range of 31 miles on roads and off-road, the maximum range drops to 25 miles. Endurance-wise, the onboard batteries permit 120 hours of power assuming the Droid NW 40 is stationary (for example, as a static gun position) but if active in the battlefield, then the endurance is reduced to 12 hours.

     Operator vision comes from the optic suite seen below the barrel of the AGL-53. Besides the daylight cameras, there is a thermal imager that permits the Droid NW 40 to engage enemy targets at night as well as in low visibility conditions such as smoke, dust, and fog. Linkage to the Droid NW 40 can be accomplished using radio communication products such as Wi-Fi and Sine Link modules (from Sine Engineering). If required (or desired), the Droid NW 40 can be upgraded to utilize Starlink, LTE, or a Mesh network.

     As a note, the production Droid NW 40 uses the same tracks and drive train along with the middle section as the Droid TW 12.7. However, the battery compartments and other component covers situated on the sides of the UGV are longer and boxier than on the Droid TW 12.7 as the Droid NW 40 has a longer range and endurance.

For further information on the 40x53mm grenade types, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2025/02/russo-ukrainian-war-repkon-defence-rds.html

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Protector UGV

Source: Ukrainian Armor

     The Ukrainian Army has been facing a severe shortage of recruits which is leaving the available manpower of units sharply decreased. Without replacements for losses, the Ukrainian Army has not been able to conduct more strategic counterattacks to Russian advances and so must contend with only local actions. Another constant problem is resupplying troops along the front lines as well as evacuating casualties. Typically, this is done using a single SUV or pickup truck with a 2-3 man crew. However, it means running a gauntlet of drone infested skies which has become known to Ukrainian troops and drone operators as the “Kill Zone” where anything that is perceived as an enemy is subjected to FPV drone strikes. As a consequence, the risk is high for those tasked with conducting these missions. As a solution, in September 2024, Ukrainian Armor debuted its Protector UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) at the MSPO International Defense Industry Exhibition held in Kielce, Poland. On June 27, 2025, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine formally accepted the Protector for service and to date, the Protector is the largest UGV in use by the Ukrainian Army.

     The 4.4-ton Protector looks to be based on Ukrainian Armor's Novator 4x4 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier), at least in the external appearance. It is fitted with a 3-litre diesel engine that develops 190 horsepower and on roads, the Protector can achieve a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour.  The Protector features all-wheel drive to enhance off-road mobility. As befitting a cargo carrier, the Protector has a payload capacity of 1,543 pounds and has been shown to be capable of towing a trailer with 6,000 pounds of cargo onboard.

     The operator's view comes from a day/night optical suite fitted onto a centrally mounted mast and in more built-up terrain, the maximum control range is around 4 miles but in open terrain, control range can be anywhere between 7.5 miles to a maximum of 9 miles. The operator has three independent links to the Protector via an external antenna on the UGV which allows the operator to switch control frequencies if electronic jamming is impacting signal transmissions. Although this operational distance seems relatively short ranged, it does allow the Protector to navigate through portions of the “Kill Zone” though in some sectors of the front, the “Kill Zone” can be as much as 19 miles wide. Besides the electronics which control the vehicle, the Protector is also fitted with the ICOMWare situational awareness system. Connected to a secured mesh network, the ICOMWare system permits real-time communication and information sharing. With it, the Protector can transmit feeds to any unit connected to the network. As a redundant control mechanism, the Protector is fitted with a Stalink terminal. Enough fuel is carried to provide the Protector with a maximum operational range of 249 miles.

     The Protector is encased in STANAG 4569 Level 1 armor. This means it is capable of defeating up to the 7.62x51mm NATO ball round (the 147-grain M80 cartridge) at 30 meters. It can also withstand being hit by 155mm shell fragments from a range of 100 meters. Assuming the armor protection extends to the underside, the Protector can shrug off hand grenade explosions, small anti-personnel explosives, and some artillery dispersed fragmentation submunitions. In addition, the Protector is fitted with run-flat tires, allowing the UGV to retain mobility after receiving damage to the tire(s).

     The Protector UGV has been shown in at least four variants in Ukrainian Armor literature. One is fitted with a RWS (Remote Weapon Station) fitted with a 14.5mm KPV heavy machine-gun and designed as a infantry support vehicle while a second retains the RWS but adds mast-mounted EW (Electronic Warfare) equipment. A third variant is a tank destroyer, fitted with two ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) while the fourth variant is a engineering vehicle with a front mounted dozer blade, RWS, and what appears to be lane marker dispensers. To date, none of these variants have been accepted for service.

Photograph via Ukrainian Armor.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Robotized Complexes Plyushch UGV

Source: Robotized Complexes

     Even to the more casual follower of the Russo-Ukrainian War, it is clear that the conflict is very much dominated by electronic warfare (EW). The heavy deployment of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and FPV (First Person View) drones by both sides in the war have shown the militaries of the world that no longer are UAVs just pure reconnaissance platforms and that effective drones and UAVs are no longer the province of military forces with massive budgets. The Ukrainian Army, by necessity, has revolutionized UAV and drone usage. In part, this is to create a low cost, but effective, force multiplier that permits the Ukrainian military to extend strike capability far into Russia. It also permitted the Ukrainian Navy to reassert dominance in the Black Sea where sea-going drones (USVs or Unmanned Surface Vehicles) have kept the Russian Black Sea Fleet impotent. Advancements in remote operated self-defense weapons on Ukrainian USVs has seen Russian aviation finding that attempting to destroy Ukrainian USVs is a risky prospect. The Ukrainian Army has been expanding the usage of UGVs, or Unmanned Ground Vehicles, to extend the capabilities of Ukrainian drone operations as well as defensive, offensive, and logistical support tasks. An example of the former is shown here, the Plyushch (“Plush”).

     Developed and built by Robotized Complexes, the Plyushch is a UGV that is designed to work in cooperation with Ukrainian UAV and drone units. The tracked vehicle is equipped with an electro-hydraulic motor that, at full charge, provides for a range of just shy of 25 miles (24.8 miles). Top speed is 5.5 miles per hour. By not having a internal combustion engine, the Plyushch enjoys a measure of stealth due to the lack of engine noise. The Plyushch is not light, having a weight of a bit over 1,700 pounds (1,708lb. to be exact). Using a commercially available 5.8GHz radio system and ground controller built by SIYI (a division of the Chinese company Reebot Robotics), the Plyushch can be remote controlled from as far away as 6 miles in open terrain. The Plyushch's small size makes it easily transportable and deployed quickly to where needed while that same small size provides for a level of concealment from detection.

     Of course, the main “weapon” of the Plyushch is a collapsible/telescoping mast antenna atop the vehicle's hull. It takes 1 minute, 20 seconds for the antenna to fully deploy and only a minute to return to travel order. At full extension, the mast is 32.8 feet high. The top of the antenna houses electronic equipment for two purposes...though for operational security, the specifics and capabilities of both have not been disclosed. The first purpose is for radio relay and this is used to extend the signal range of command channels of drones. This allows drones to loiter over the battlefield at further distances than would otherwise be possible without a relay. By consequence, this allows the drone operator to be further away from the front line and thus enjoying a measure of enhanced protection from detection and retaliation if spotted. Also, the use of the Plyushch as a relay means improved signal in areas where signal infrastructure is damaged or degraded, terrain lessens signal range, or Russian jamming is heavy. The second purpose is as a EW platform, jamming communication and navigation frequencies utilized by Russian UAVs and drones.