Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps announced on 22/12/2024 that a ground drone from its 3rd Assault Brigade successfully held a front-line position for 45 days, replacing infantry. Operators controlled the device remotely from a secure location, far from the front lines.
The drone used was the Droid TW 12,7, armed with a 12,7 mm M2 machine gun and operated by the NC13 unit. NC13, a company within the 3rd Brigade established in September, specializes in ground drone operations.
"Throughout the mission, the enemy could not infiltrate or capture the position. We held the defensive line without casualties", the unit stated.
Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps released a video, captured by an aerial drone and the ground drone's camera, showing the Droid TW 12,7 continuously firing forward. While targets were not clear, this deployment represents a rare instance where Ukraine has used ground drones to replace or support soldiers in holding positions for extended periods, a highly dangerous battlefield task.
Developed by Ukrainian technology company DevDroid, the Droid TW 12,7 is a tracked vehicle. This drone boasts an operating range of 24 km, is controlled via radio signals, and features automatic navigation powered by AI technology.
The Droid TW 12,7 previously garnered attention during an ambush of Russian military vehicles. A video showed it firing directly at a moving target, then repositioning to target the vehicle's rear. The outcome of this particular ambush remains unknown.
Ground drones are increasingly prevalent on the Ukrainian battlefield. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces develop them for dangerous tasks, replacing soldiers in roles from mine clearance to transporting supplies. Recent tests by both sides for combat missions, while still requiring human operators, signify initial steps towards using drones to replace infantry in ground warfare.
By Pham Giang (Source: Business Insider)
