Recently, the Ukrainian military successfully deployed a “paratrooper” robot behind enemy lines, achieving significant battlefield results.
According to a report by the British Telegraph on Saturday, September 26th, the Ukrainian military deployed heavy unmanned aerial vehicles to deploy explosive attack robot vehicles in enemy territory. This action is part of an operation called “Operation Vivaldi” initiated by the Ukrainian military.
The Ukrainian 3rd Army reported that the “paratrooper” robot system had helped the Ukrainian forces eliminate around 3,000 Russian soldiers and recapture approximately 48 square miles of occupied territory within a few months. The robots have ventured as far as 12 miles behind enemy lines.
Army General Andriy Biletsky stated that during this operation, the Ukrainian forces liberated Shandrohorylov and Derlovy in Donetsk Oblast, and gained complete control of Drobysheve.
Darwin, the commander of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 3rd Army, mentioned that these remotely operated robots have made combat safer for their soldiers.
According to Ukrainian media outlet dou.ua, soldiers from the Ukrainian 93rd Independent Mechanized Brigade, named “Alter Ego,” developed a system known as the “kangaroo-style” system.
This system, from concept to its first combat mission, took only 10 days to develop. The main concept involves using one unmanned aerial device to drop another combat robot behind enemy lines to execute missions.
The Ukrainian Defense Innovation Group, Brave1, initiated in 2023, mentioned that the United States has been researching a similar concept for over 30 years but has yet to implement it in actual combat.
Currently, there is no mass-produced ground robot available on the market that can be airdropped by bomber drones and carry out tasks such as long-distance high-throughput, endurance, communication, and explosive missions simultaneously.
The Brave1 group has identified manufacturers to transition the prototype into mass production.
The combat experience of the Ukrainian military has shown that the airdropped “paratrooper” robot system is highly effective in targeting enemy fortifications and personnel.
The Ukrainian 3rd Army reported earlier that in Operation Vivaldi, they airdropped ground robots behind Russian forces for the first time, although details were not disclosed at the time. Now, more details of the process have been revealed.
According to Darwin, the commander of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 3rd Army, during missions, Ukrainian air defense and electronic warfare units initially suppressed Russian reconnaissance drones and engaged enemy infantry with drones and artillery to force them into hiding in fortifications, thereby concealing their own offensive intentions.
Subsequently, heavy bomber drones transported suicide drones to enemy deep territories. The entire flight and deployment were conducted under the cover of night.
He stated, “The most challenging part is safely delivering the combat robots to their designated locations.”
The 3rd Army emphasized that ultimately, victory in war depends on infantry, but they prioritize protecting their infantry by first launching attacks with robots against the enemy.
Ukrainian commander Mykola Zinkevych revealed that the remote deployment distance of the robots made it difficult for Russian commanders to believe that it was solely the work of the Ukrainian unmanned system.
Darwin mentioned that combat experience has shown that the airdropped “paratrooper” robot system is highly effective in targeting enemy fortifications and personnel. This type of tactic can be utilized in any section of the frontline, and the military has begun sharing their experiences with other brigades.