Sven-Erik Volberg
Can UGVs replace a soldier? In April Zelensky announced that Ukraine conducted more than 22,000 missions with ground drones #UGVs in the first quarter of 2026. Logistics, combat, medical evacuation, demining: remotely operated ground drones are becoming a new standard 🧵 1/6 dronivka.com
May 12 at 10:43amWeb
Show threadSven-Erik Volberg6d ago
Number of Ukrainian companies producing ground drones in 2026: ~280 Number of different models: ~310 Number of ground drones produced in Q1 2026: ~20,000 (+3,900% since 2024) In 18 months, Ukraine went from building a few prototypes to mass production. 2/6
Show threadSven-Erik Volberg6d ago
In November, 67 Ukrainian units were using UGVs. By 2026, that number rose to over 170 — nearly all units are now equipped. A favorable economic ratio: With a unit cost of $5,000 to $30,000, Ukrainian units now have a decisive asset at a fraction of the price of a traditional armored vehicle 3/6
Show threadSven-Erik Volberg6d ago
With the omnipresence of aerial drones, a large part of the front has become impassable for infantry — the "killzone". Any human movement is spotted and targeted within minutes. ↗ 80% of military casualties are now caused by aerial drones, particularly FPV kamikaze drones. 4/6
Show threadSven-Erik Volberg6d ago
▫️01 — LOGISTICS: Delivering food and ammunition to forward positions. ▫️02 — COMBAT: Remotely operating machine guns, grenade launchers, and jammers. ▫️03 — EVACUATION: Evacuating a wounded or fallen soldier without exposing a stretcher team. 5/6
Show threadSven-Erik Volberg6d ago
A UGV at €10k that can be deployed without hesitation is worth more than a €500k platform that will stay confined Modularity, a single chassis must be able to carry a logistics load, a machine gun, a stretcher, a jammer, or an FPV relay. One platform must be able to fulfill multiple missions. 6/6
Show threadSven-Erik Volberg6d ago
P.S casualty tolerance is way higher. 6 soldiers lost would be sad, 6 UGVs is a week of wait fir replacements bsky.app/profile/volb...

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:jgvcogxgfeplj7g3tfov7iro/post/3mhbslu4pms2t
Show threadSven-Erik Volberg6d ago
P.P.S They can also do crazy things. Like 55km/h rescues of WIAd soldiers while 'driver' is safely behind the frontlines bsky.app/profile/volb...

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:jgvcogxgfeplj7g3tfov7iro/post/3mgnlvhne5c23
Show threadSven-Erik Volberg6d ago
P.P.P.S (this is getting ridiculous) Small area where Estonia leads in the world in military technology. This is more upscale model but one of the few tested in 3 continents in battle situation. Not that 300 Ukrainian companies jerryrigging don't have stuff to teach us bsky.app/profile/volb...

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:jgvcogxgfeplj7g3tfov7iro/post/3m2lz2htep22h