Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has approved a new domestically developed ground combat robot for operational deployment, with the goal of reducing troop exposure in high-risk combat zones.
The Zmiy Droid 12.7 NRK is designed for both strike and reconnaissance missions and is armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun, enabling it to undertake dangerous frontline tasks.
Built on a combat-proven chassis, the robot is capable of maneuvering across challenging terrain, including off-road routes, sand, snow, and shallow water. Its armored hull provides protection against anti-personnel mines and first-person-view drone attacks.
A key capability of the Droid 12.7 is its advanced control architecture, which allows a single operator to manage both the robotic platform and its AI-enabled combat module simultaneously.
This human–machine teaming approach improves operational decision-making, with the Wolly combat module able to autonomously track and engage hostile targets.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the system is intended for high-intensity combat operations, replacing human soldiers on the front lines while maintaining full combat effectiveness.
The approval builds on prior success with similar robotic systems already used by Ukraine’s armed forces. In earlier operations, ground robots supported frontline units by destroying a Russian light armored tractor, while others held firing positions for up to 45 days, requiring only periodic battery and ammunition replenishment.
These results indicate that the Droid 12.7 NRK is entering service as a mature capability, reflecting the Ukrainian military’s growing experience and confidence in ground combat robotics.
