How MILREM is Redefining Tactical Autonomy with Next-Gen UGVs

MILREM ROBOTICS writes on the role that the company’s THeMIS UGV is playing in Ukraine, and the role that the Havoc RCV is set to play within modern militaries. 

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The THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System) unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) and HAVOC robotic combat vehicle (RCV) exemplify MILREM ROBOTICS’ (MILREM) leadership in multi-mission unmanned ground systems. THeMIS in a CARGO/CASEVAC configuration was the very first UGV in service with Ukrainian Armed Forces and has been used since August 2022. Since this deployment, Ukrainian unmanned ground robotics have increased significantly every year.

Together, THeMIS and HAVOC are transforming how forces operate in today’s battlespace and presenting a strategic opportunity that modern militaries cannot afford to overlook.  This article takes a closer look at TheMIS’ combat-proven performance on the frontlines in Ukraine and the technical capabilities that make HAVOC a game-changer in robotic combat operations.

THeMIS: Tackling the dirty, and dangerous in Ukraine

While some argue that uncrewed and autonomous platforms are replacing human soldiers on the battlefield, the reality reflects a more integrated operational dynamic. These platforms are not substitutes for troops; they are force multipliers integrated with manned units. 

By taking on high-risk, high-burden roles such as logistics, combat support and casualty evacuation, they enhance the safety, efficiency, and combat effectiveness of human forces while keeping frontline personnel out of harm’s way. In Ukraine, the THeMIS UGV has taken on all three roles, often within a single mission. The battlefield has evolved into a network of isolated, hard-to-access frontline positions, typically defended by small, tactically adept infantry units. This is the exact environment the THeMIS was built for. 

Operating in lockstep with dismounted troops, the platform delivers critical supplies and heavy equipment across complex, hostile terrain, enhancing the endurance, safety, and effectiveness of frontline warfighters.  In Ukraine, infantry often operate from camouflaged foxholes or the basements of houses to avoid detection by the ever-present drones. They rely on a handful of roads to and from their positions, which are routinely targeted by artillery and attack UAVs. 

In this world, every movement is under surveillance, with both sides deploying thousands of drones daily.  Any concentration of vehicles risks immediate detection and is likely to be targeted within minutes, including unmarked vehicles used for troop transport, resupply, or casualty evacuation.

Even in the absence of drones, moving to and from the frontline remains fraught with danger. The roads and areas are routinely mined, and unexploded ordnance lies along the shoulders of many, posing serious risks to vehicles attempting to manoeuvre off-route to avoid incoming fire. 

The goal is to isolate frontline defenders from logistics and support to erode their resistance and enable a breakthrough.  Fortunately for Ukraine, its armed forces can count on a growing fleet of THeMIS UGVs, supplied from the MILREM production facility in Tallinn, Estonia, which has an annual capacity of up to 500 units, to help bridge this critical gap.

THeMIS is currently deployed in two configurations: One variant serves as a mine clearance vehicle, equipped with a plough and interrogator arm to clear the thousands of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) laid throughout Ukraine.  The other variant serves as a CARGO/CASEVAC delivering much needed supplies and returning with wounded soldiers. 

Russian forces routinely position anti-personnel mines around anti-tank devices, creating deadly traps for demining experts. This is the ideal situation for a platform like THeMIS, which can be used to investigate a mined area without putting personnel at risk. In any role, be it reconnaissance, overwatch, or logistics, remote operation is key to safeguarding the operator, a requirement that has become increasingly vital for any platform deployed in Ukraine. 

THeMIS can be operated from over 1.5 kilometres away using its existing communications link, or even hundreds of kilometres via satellite connectivity which was recently proven effective with another Milrem customer. The system’s AES-256 encrypted communication link, combined with robust communication protocols, has ensured that none have been lost to jamming, despite Russia’s extensive electronic warfare capabilities.

Beyond this, THeMIS is frequently used as a logistics platform, transporting ammunition, food, and other critical supplies to frontline positions. The UGV has logged thousands of hours performing these missions, helping to preserve human lives and keep Ukrainian troops out of harm’s way. In some instances, the platform’s maximum 1,200 kg payload capacity has been employed to transport timber for bunker construction, demonstrating its versatility and multi-role capability on the battlefield.

THeMIS is a modular platform, capable of integrating a variety of payloads, including advanced sensors and weapon stations such as the Kongsberg Protector RS4 and RS6, Thales’ FZ60X, FN HERSTAL’s deFNder® Medium, Leonardo’s HITROLE® Light and EDGE’s HUNTER SP multi-role portable loitering munition, among others. Its open architecture allows for rapid conversion or configuration, enabling the system to support a broad range of missions beyond logistic support and mine clearance.

Medical vehicles, much like their logistical counterparts, are frequently targeted as they move to and from the frontline, making the recovery of wounded personnel a high-risk operation. At the same time, casualties must be extracted without endangering additional lives. In such scenarios, THeMIS has been effectively deployed to perform complex casualty evacuation missions. 

The platform’s low centre of gravity and wide tracks enable it to navigate Ukraine’s challenging terrain while safely carrying wounded soldiers. This mobility has been particularly valued by Ukrainian soldiers during the “bezdorizhzhia” or “roadlessness” season, a period between late autumn, winter and spring when heavy rains combine to create thick, impassable mud.  While heavy trucks and tanks became inoperable, THeMIS continued to operate, delivering vital supplies and offering Ukrainian forces on the frontline a dependable lifeline. Looking ahead, MILREM is applying frontline lessons learnt from THeMIS’ successful deployments in Mali and Ukraine, to develop a next-generation UGV, expected in 2026, based entirely on operational feedback. 

THeMIS has demonstrated its value as a high-performance and versatile UGV in high-intensity conflict zones. MILREM has also developed a new generation of unmanned systems purpose-built for direct combat operations.

MILREM and HAVOC: Setting a new benchmark for robotic combat

As the global leader in autonomous UGVs and robotic systems, MILREM is also pioneering the development of larger, heavily armed RCVs designed for close-combat support. At IDEX 2025, the company unveiled the HAVOC 8×8 RCV, an advanced platform equipped with autonomous functions and purpose-built for high-intensity warfare operations.

Designed to operate alongside frontline combat vehicles and support mechanised units, HAVOC can integrate a wide array of payloads and remote weapon stations. 

It also delivers decisive firepower, providing commanders with a transformative capability to project force at extended ranges while significantly reducing risks to personnel.

Optimised for manned-unmanned teaming and infantry support missions, THeMIS’ speed is capped at 20 km/h, matching the pace of dismounted troops and ensuring steady, coordinated movement. HAVOC, on the other hand, is engineered for high-speed combat support, with a top speed of 110 km/h on-road and 50 km/h off-road, enabling it to keep pace with armoured platforms. The platform’s eight-wheel design delivers low ground pressure and high mobility across all terrains, both on and off-road.

HAVOC is powered by a hybrid propulsion system with electric drives that deliver 100% torque instantly. In contrast, a conventional internal combustion engine must shift through gears, gradually building torque and traction. This gives HAVOC a decisive edge in off-road navigation and battlefield manoeuvrability, both essential for an RCV to operate alongside larger armoured platforms, where it must match their pace and navigate the same challenging terrain. 

With this baseline capability, HAVOC can be deployed as a reconnaissance screen, advancing ahead of high-value assets such as main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles to locate adversary strongpoints.  This supports modern force planning models such as the British Army’s objective to derive 40% of its combat power from reusable, ultimately expendable assets.

Nevertheless, mobility is only one piece of the equation. To be effective in the field, RCVs must be highly autonomous to reduce the command burden. HAVOC is equipped with an AI-enabled navigation system that enables autonomous operation across diverse terrain, on and off-road. From a force organisation perspective, autonomous navigation frees crew members to operate turrets, sensors, and other mission-critical functions, reducing the manpower burden and minimising risk to human lives. It also enhances resilience to jamming, a top concern for any military.

With a baseline weight of 12 tonnes and a 5-tonne payload capacity, HAVOC can integrate a wide range of payloads and mission systems, including Frankenburg’s 30 mm turret with missile launchers, KNDS’ Minelayer, the Kongsberg MCT-30 turret, and the Halcon HS2, also developed by Kongsberg. This versatility positions HAVOC as more than just an uncrewed platform; it enables entirely new concepts of operation across the battlespace.

The platform can be deployed to lay anti-vehicle minefields ahead of advancing formations without exposing human personnel to risks, or to deliver loitering munitions closer to adversary positions, enabling deeper reconnaissance and more effective strikes. Combined, HAVOC’s advanced mobility, autonomous capabilities and payload versatility make it a dominant force when integrated into the war-fighting concepts of modern armies, including in high-intensity operations.