Ukrainian military will get 14 THeMIS ground drones to transport the wounded and clear traffic routes

Milrem Robotics, a European robotics and autonomous systems developer, and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), a German defence company, have signed a contract to deliver 14 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) to Ukraine.

Of the 14 vehicles, seven will be configured for casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and are scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year. The other seven, to be delivered in the second quarter of 2023, will be configured for route clearance with payloads from the French defence manufacturer CNIM Systèmes Industriels.

The effort is being funded by the German Ministry of Defence.

"Casualty evacuation and route clearance are two labour-intensive activities that require the engagement of several people who remain in constant threat of enemy fire. Automating these tasks with unmanned vehicles alleviates that danger and allows more soldiers to stay in a safe area or be tasked for more important activities," explained Captain (res) Jüri Pajuste, Defence R&D Director at Milrem Robotics.

Milrem Robotics delivered a CASEVAC THeMIS earlier this year to a Ukrainian charitable organization, and it has proven itself invaluable.

"This important project gives evidence of our common ability to provide advanced technology to Ukraine. We are determined to support Ukraine with protective and lifesaving equipment. The fast delivery of 14 THeMIS UGVs proves that KMW and Milrem are partners you can rely on," said Ralf Ketzel, CEO of KMW.

TheMIS is a ground vehicle that can be quickly configured for different missions. It can be used to transport people or objects, or it can be armed and used for intelligence operations. THeMIS UGV is being used in various programs by 16 countries worldwide, including eight NATO members: Estonia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the UK and US.

Source: Milrem Robotics