Ukraine says using AI robot guns to shoot down new Russian drones
AFP
Mon, October 5, 2026
Twelve of the AI-powered turrets have been installed in Kyiv, officials said (Handout)
Ukraine has begun using artificial intelligence-enabled robot guns to take down Russia's new and fast-moving jet-powered drones, the Ukrainian air force said Monday.
For months, Kyiv has been seeking new ways to intercept the new Russian drones pounding the Ukrainian capital as it faces a dire lack of suitable ammunition to take them out.
Russia's newer jet-powered drones move faster and are harder to intercept than the traditional models, which are based on Iranian Shahed drones.
As part of Ukraine's efforts to respond, "robotic turrets are now being installed on bridges", air force spokesman colonel Yuri Ignat told national television.
"There have already been shoot-downs" of the drones, including the bigger, faster and more powerful Geran-5 version, he told national television.
Speaking to AFP, Ignat explained that the new turrets, which have been seen by AFP journalists in the Ukrainian capital, use "optical vision and artificial intelligence to eliminate the human factor and deliver strikes".
Sergiy Beskrestnov, a technology adviser to the Ukrainian president, explained on Telegram over the weekend that the new automated turrets were "an innovative Ukrainian solution that shoots down (drones) using machine guns controlled by artificial intelligence".
He said that 12 of the turrets had been installed in Kyiv, adding that "more turrets will be installed in the future".
- Not a panacea -
Ignat acknowledged that the new system had a small operating radius.
AFP
Mon, October 5, 2026
Twelve of the AI-powered turrets have been installed in Kyiv, officials said (Handout)
Ukraine has begun using artificial intelligence-enabled robot guns to take down Russia's new and fast-moving jet-powered drones, the Ukrainian air force said Monday.
For months, Kyiv has been seeking new ways to intercept the new Russian drones pounding the Ukrainian capital as it faces a dire lack of suitable ammunition to take them out.
Russia's newer jet-powered drones move faster and are harder to intercept than the traditional models, which are based on Iranian Shahed drones.
As part of Ukraine's efforts to respond, "robotic turrets are now being installed on bridges", air force spokesman colonel Yuri Ignat told national television.
"There have already been shoot-downs" of the drones, including the bigger, faster and more powerful Geran-5 version, he told national television.
Speaking to AFP, Ignat explained that the new turrets, which have been seen by AFP journalists in the Ukrainian capital, use "optical vision and artificial intelligence to eliminate the human factor and deliver strikes".
Sergiy Beskrestnov, a technology adviser to the Ukrainian president, explained on Telegram over the weekend that the new automated turrets were "an innovative Ukrainian solution that shoots down (drones) using machine guns controlled by artificial intelligence".
He said that 12 of the turrets had been installed in Kyiv, adding that "more turrets will be installed in the future".
- Not a panacea -
Ignat acknowledged that the new system had a small operating radius.
Business Insider
"It can operate at about one kilometre plus. And it works when conditions are favourable, when the attack approach angle is suitable," he told AFP.
"This is not some kind of panacea," he said, stressing that the turrets were part of "an integrated air defence system that provides engagement of these targets at different tiers".
"Of course we rely on all available assets."
Ignat said that currently, most of the work against jet-powered drones "is actually done by aviation".
"Because they fly high, they fly fast, it's the fighters that can catch them, especially the F-16s," he explained, adding that some pilots could "sometimes shoot down more than 10 Shaheds in a single sortie".
But the pilots were often forced to use aircraft cannons against drones, "because there are no missiles, (or) there are very, very few", he lamented.
Ukraine, which has repeatedly sought more support to fend off Russia since its full-scale invasion began in 2022, has been accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence into its defence capabilities.
It is already using the technology on the frontlines to guide drones, detect targets for strikes and coordinate large-scale operations.
bur-nl/jc/gv
Frontline Robotics unveils Frodo, its new 6×6 UGV with 93-mile range and 25 mph top speed
Munis Raza
Sat, October 3, 2026
Frontline Robotics has unveiled Frodo, a universal 6x6 unmanned ground vehicle designed for logistics, evacuation, and strike missions, with a top speed of 25 mph and a range of up to 93 miles on a single charge.
Ukrainian defense company Frontline Robotics has unveiled Frodo, a universal 6x6 unmanned ground vehicle built for logistics, evacuation and strike missions. The company told Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi that the platform can reach a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) and travel up to 93 miles (150 kilometers) on a single charge.
Frodo carries an effective payload of up to 440 pounds (200 kilograms) and a maximum payload of up to 880 pounds (400 kilograms). Independent adaptive suspension and ground clearance adjustable between 6.7 and 13 inches (170 to 330 millimeters) are designed to let the vehicle handle potholes, rocky roads and paths blocked by fallen trees.
Built to keep moving
A low center of gravity helps keep Frodo stable across uneven terrain, while its running gear is designed to keep the vehicle moving even if it loses a wheel entirely. A single service member can replace the vehicle's battery packs without additional support, according to the manufacturer.
The platform also supports several communication channels, including Starlink, LTE, Silvus, ELRS and TBS, giving operators multiple ways to maintain contact with the vehicle across different battlefield conditions. Frodo has already been codified and is now available for procurement by Ukraine's Defense Forces.
More than a cargo hauler
Beyond transporting cargo and evacuating wounded personnel, Frodo can carry remotely operated combat modules. The platform is compatible with Frontline Robotics' own Burya turret, a robotic weapons mount the company first introduced in 2024 for the Mk 19 40mm automatic grenade launcher before moving the system into serial production in early 2025.
An upgraded version, Burya 2.0, followed in late 2025 with a universal mount capable of operating the Mk 19, RDS40 and AGS-53 grenade launchers, as well as the Browning M2 heavy machine gun and similar weapons.
Part of a bigger push
Frontline Robotics CEO Yevhen Tretiak said ground robotics is now going through the same stage of development that aerial drones already went through, as militaries work to control not just the sky but the ground beneath it. He added that entering the unmanned ground vehicle market fits into the company's broader strategy of building a multidomain robotic ecosystem.
The Burya turret has already been fitted onto other platforms beyond Frodo, including Ukraine's ARDAL UGV in February and the Estonian-made THeMIS tracked UGV, built by Milrem Robotics, in August 2025. Frontline Robotics has also agreed to integrate the turret with Danish-Ukrainian company Dropla's Logist ground platform, with both companies jointly developing AI-based threat-detection systems.
Frontline Robotics additionally produces the Linza 3.0 bomber drone, built with visual-inertial navigation for use in electronic warfare conditions, along with the Z00m 3.0 reconnaissance drone, designed to operate under similar jamming conditions.
Munis Raza
Sat, October 3, 2026
INTERESTIN ENGINEERING
Frontline Robotics unveils Frodo, its new 6×6 UGV with 93-mile range and 25 mph top speed
Frontline Robotics unveils Frodo, its new 6×6 UGV with 93-mile range and 25 mph top speed
Key takeaways
Frontline Robotics has unveiled Frodo, a universal 6x6 unmanned ground vehicle designed for logistics, evacuation, and strike missions, with a top speed of 25 mph and a range of up to 93 miles on a single charge.
Ukrainian defense company Frontline Robotics has unveiled Frodo, a universal 6x6 unmanned ground vehicle built for logistics, evacuation and strike missions. The company told Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi that the platform can reach a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) and travel up to 93 miles (150 kilometers) on a single charge.
Frodo carries an effective payload of up to 440 pounds (200 kilograms) and a maximum payload of up to 880 pounds (400 kilograms). Independent adaptive suspension and ground clearance adjustable between 6.7 and 13 inches (170 to 330 millimeters) are designed to let the vehicle handle potholes, rocky roads and paths blocked by fallen trees.
Built to keep moving
A low center of gravity helps keep Frodo stable across uneven terrain, while its running gear is designed to keep the vehicle moving even if it loses a wheel entirely. A single service member can replace the vehicle's battery packs without additional support, according to the manufacturer.
The platform also supports several communication channels, including Starlink, LTE, Silvus, ELRS and TBS, giving operators multiple ways to maintain contact with the vehicle across different battlefield conditions. Frodo has already been codified and is now available for procurement by Ukraine's Defense Forces.
More than a cargo hauler
Beyond transporting cargo and evacuating wounded personnel, Frodo can carry remotely operated combat modules. The platform is compatible with Frontline Robotics' own Burya turret, a robotic weapons mount the company first introduced in 2024 for the Mk 19 40mm automatic grenade launcher before moving the system into serial production in early 2025.
An upgraded version, Burya 2.0, followed in late 2025 with a universal mount capable of operating the Mk 19, RDS40 and AGS-53 grenade launchers, as well as the Browning M2 heavy machine gun and similar weapons.
Part of a bigger push
Frontline Robotics CEO Yevhen Tretiak said ground robotics is now going through the same stage of development that aerial drones already went through, as militaries work to control not just the sky but the ground beneath it. He added that entering the unmanned ground vehicle market fits into the company's broader strategy of building a multidomain robotic ecosystem.
The Burya turret has already been fitted onto other platforms beyond Frodo, including Ukraine's ARDAL UGV in February and the Estonian-made THeMIS tracked UGV, built by Milrem Robotics, in August 2025. Frontline Robotics has also agreed to integrate the turret with Danish-Ukrainian company Dropla's Logist ground platform, with both companies jointly developing AI-based threat-detection systems.
Frontline Robotics additionally produces the Linza 3.0 bomber drone, built with visual-inertial navigation for use in electronic warfare conditions, along with the Z00m 3.0 reconnaissance drone, designed to operate under similar jamming conditions.
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