Developed by Ukrainian engineers, the Ratel S unmanned ground vehicle has successfully passed state tests and has already entered mass production, notifies Mykhailo Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
The vehicle was created within the defense-tech cluster Brave1. The manufacturer is the Stolb.com.ua street light equipment company that started making unmanned technologies since the beginning of the russian invasion of Ukraine.
Read more: In October, Four russia’s TOS-1A Solntsepyok MLRs Already Destroyed in Ukraine, Most Were Burned by Kamikaze Drones
Maximum speed is 24 km/h, operational range is 6 km, battery endurance 2 hours. The creators say it is silent which helps to approach enemy lines inconspicuously. Ratel S is designed to destroy enemy manpower and equipment. For that purpose, there is a niche for an anti-tank explosive device, or alternatively, a few mortar shells could be tied to it.
"Soldiers use it as a mobile warhead that carries anti-tank mines or a combat module. Thanks to this technology, the operator can blow up the enemy tank or a dugout from a safe place," minister Fedorov noted. He didn't specify though, what kind of a combat module, or simply weapon station, can be installed on Ratel S instead of explosives.
In an interview to TSN.ua, the drone's creator Taras Ostapchuk said his development was a private initiative, and production is crowdfunded. Thus the successful completion of state tests will allow the start of the official supply of Ratel S to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Worth noting, this is not the first public appearance of Ratel S. Earlier, Ukrainian soldiers shared footage from the tests of this unmanned platform, it was equipped with TM-62 anti-tank landmines.
Besides, the Ukrainian forces also use other similar technologies. Previously, Defense Express covered the suicide robot deployed by Ukrainians against russian tanks, with 12 kg of explosive on top.
Read more: Ukrainians Use Ground Kamikaze Robots to Attack russians (Video)
