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Last Year, Ratel Supplied Hundreds of Platforms to the Defense Forces, and 2025 Could Mark a Surge in Unmanned Ground Vehicle Usage

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Last Year, Ratel Supplied Hundreds of Platforms to the Defense Forces, and 2025 Could Mark a Surge in Unmanned Ground Vehicle Usage

The Ukrainian military is expanding its deployment of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) on the battlefield, with numbers already reaching into the hundreds and potentially thousands of units

Over the past year, the Defense Forces of Ukraine significantly increased their acquisition of UGVs, as reported to Defense Express by Taras Ostapchuk, an officer in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and head of Ratel, a leading UGV manufacturing company.

According to Ostapchuk, Ukraine boasts over 50 manufacturers of robotic systems, collectively offering more than 110 codified UGV products ready for deployment by the Defense Forces.

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When discussing the number of platforms in service, Ostapchuk estimated that over 2,000 UGVs were delivered last year alone. This growth has been fueled by state contracts, and projections indicate that production could expand up to eightfold in the coming year.

Regarding Ratel’s contribution, the company has supplied approximately 500 UGVs to date. These platforms serve various battlefield roles, including kamikaze robots, remote mining systems, and logistical support.

Training operators for UGVs remains a critical priority. Ostapchuk highlighted that Ukraine has established its first official Armed Forces training school for UGV operators, graduating 31 specialists last year with the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of UGV operator. Additionally, Ratel itself runs two training programs, which trained 150 UGV operators throughout 2024.

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