"Performs the functions of an infantry fighting vehicle": a ground drone with a 25-mm cannon was presented in Ukraine
The VATAG ground robotic complex, which performs "heavy" logistics and attack tasks, was presented at the Brave1 Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition.
The project manager told Oborontsi that the developers are seeking to transfer some functions of infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), MTLBs, and M113s to a robotic platform. The goal is to ensure that certain logistics and combat operations can be performed without human intervention.
"From personal experience, I can say that when you are inside an infantry fighting vehicle that is hit by something, you have neither the time nor the desire to find out whether you are alive, whether the vehicle is moving, or whether it can be restarted. The first reaction is to drop everything and run out. But if the operator works from a safe place, he can calmly control the vehicle and complete the task. Among the functions assigned to the infantry fighting vehicle, the robot cannot except landing infantry," said a representative of the development company.
The first thing that catches your eye is the armament. The exhibition model of the robot is equipped with a 25 mm automatic cannon, but the modular design also allows you to install a 12.7 mm machine gun or a Mk19 grenade launcher.
"Our GRC is designed to use the standard automatic 25-mm M242 Bushmaster cannon. That is, you can simply remove the cannon from the Bradley vehicle and put it on the platform. But the carrying capacity allows you to install even a full package of BM-21 "Grad" rocket artillery on it," the developer said.
Another function is logistics. The robot is capable of taking on up to two tons of cargo and has an automatic system for dumping it thanks to the hydraulic system. The declared speed of automatic unloading is 27 seconds. The 8x8 wheel formula, dimensions and weight ensure cross-country ability in hard-to-reach places.
VATAG has various positioning systems, so it can deliver cargo automatically to certain coordinates.
An electric motor with a large battery is at work. The maximum speed on off-road is 42 km per hour. To protect sensitive components from damage, the complex has a declared STANAG 3 hull protection (can withstand a 155mm shell explosion at a distance of 60m or a 7.62mm cartridge hit). This level of protection can be compared, for example, with the "Varta-2" armored car from "Ukrainian Armor".
Mine protection is declared at the STANAG 2 level, meaning it can withstand a 6kg explosive under the wheel.
The main intrigue remains the price of the development. The project manager noted that VATAG has a modular design, so the cost will depend heavily on the customer's request: the installed control system, armor, communications, weapons, etc.
The machine is currently in the process of codification and undergoing joint testing with the Ministry of Defence.
Previously, "Defense" wrote that Tencore introduced an updated ground drone TerMIT 2.0 with twice the performance.