The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) posted a promotional video on 8/12/2024 for its Alpha special forces unit, aiming to recruit civilian specialists. The video featured the unit's tactical training exercises, showcasing a four-legged unmanned ground vehicle, also known as a robot dog.
The robot dog was equipped with multiple sensors and carried a CZ BREN 2 assault rifle on its back, complete with a Magpul PMAG D-60 drum magazine holding 60 rounds. The robot appeared to be remotely controlled and fired at a target during the training session.
The CZ BREN 2 is a modern rifle used by Ukrainian special forces. Equipping the robot dog with this weapon suggests it is designed for close-quarters combat missions, according to Dylan Malyasov, an editor at the military news site Defence Blog.
The SBU did not disclose the manufacturer's identity or whether the product has been deployed in the field. "The video's clear purpose is to demonstrate the SBU's interest in modern military technologies and to attract a new generation of recruits with backgrounds in engineering, robotics, and information technology," Malyasov stated.
Weaponized robot dogs have been tested by militaries and private companies in recent years, including in the US and China, though their actual effectiveness and battlefield survivability remain uncertain.
Ukraine's 28th Mechanized Brigade revealed in 8/2024 that it is using BAD2 robot dogs near the front lines in Donetsk province. Brit Alliance, a security company based in the UK, has delivered over 30 units to Ukraine.
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The rifle-equipped robot dog in the video released by the SBU on 8/12/2024. Screenshot |
This robot dog model is equipped with remote sensing technology and thermal imaging cameras, capable of searching inside trenches, buildings, and densely vegetated areas where unmanned aerial vehicles cannot conduct reconnaissance.
It boasts a speed of 15 km/h, a maximum operating time of 5 hours, and can transport 7 kg of ammunition, medical equipment, or other supplies to battlefield hotspots. The robot also features German-made anti-thermal camouflage, limiting detection by enemy reconnaissance. Each unit costs 4,500-9,000 USD depending on its configuration.
Pham Giang (According to Defence Blog, Telegraph)
