American Autonomous Ground Vehicles Make Their First Appearance in Ukraine’s Conflict

Forterra, an American manufacturer focused on autonomous vehicles, has revealed that over 100 of its self-driving ATVs have been deployed in conflict zones in Ukraine for the past nine months. The company asserts that this is the largest deployment of autonomous ground vehicles in combat by any US defense technology provider.

“This holds true for all defense technologies—until you encounter the realities of combat, you can’t truly know,” remarked Scott Sanders, Forterra’s chief growth officer and a former US Marine officer, in a discussion with TechCrunch.

Backed by US defense funding, this initiative is part of a wider effort to modernize the US military while bolstering Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression. Aerial drones have garnered significant attention in this conflict, but the challenges they bring—such as creating vast no-go zones where surveillance can lead to aerial assaults—have led Ukrainian strategists to explore ground-based autonomous options as well.

“There’s nowhere to hide,” clarified Sergeant Major Corey Wilkens, who oversees the development of autonomous vehicles and tactics for the US Army. “You become highly susceptible to attacks from [first-person view drones], various drones dropping munitions, artillery, mortars—the entire spectrum of weaponry available.”

Ukraine is in the process of developing its own uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) intended for carrying supplies and munitions, or for evacuating injured soldiers. However, these vehicles are generally battery-operated and limited to a payload of 250 kilograms, according to a Ukrainian soldier familiar with their operations. TechCrunch has opted to keep their identity confidential for security reasons.

Forterra’s Lancer vehicles, derived from Polaris ATVs and equipped with a specialized sensor and computing stack, run on gasoline and can carry 750 kilograms of cargo, offering greater versatility. “This UGV for logistics and defense is crucial for Ukraine,” the soldier stated. “It’s exceptional, and we look forward to acquiring more.”

Initially, there were concerns. The Ukrainian Armed Forces had mixed success with Western companies and their new technology, leading to the perception that Forterra’s products were somewhat aligned with the high-end requirements of the US Army. Modifying the vehicle for combat—most notably by adding a Starlink satellite internet antenna—significantly boosted its operational value.

Since their arrival in Ukraine last October, these vehicles have logged over 2,500 miles across more than 1,100 missions, transporting a cumulative weight of 777,440 pounds and facilitating 52 casualty evacuations. Some units have been lost in combat, particularly when immobilized in deep mud or tough terrains that leave them easily targeted by Russian forces.

Forterra has gathered significant insights regarding electronic warfare, long-distance software updates, maneuvering through challenging conditions, and preventing vehicle breakdowns. After securing over $500 million in venture funding from firms like XYZ Venture Capital and Moore Strategic Partners, the company is now better positioned to pursue lucrative national security contracts.

The constraints of autonomy have become evident; currently, Ukrainian soldiers primarily operate the vehicles via remote controls in combat zones, as risking them is too great, and the technology is not yet equipped to handle the complexities of warfare.

While the vehicles can navigate diverse terrains autonomously, they cannot detect unexpected enemy forces and respond adequately. “We need to react to enemy threats in real time, confronting them directly, and current autonomy doesn’t allow for that yet,” one Ukrainian soldier noted.

With two decades of experience in autonomous vehicles, Forterra is investigating how to integrate the algorithms used in self-driving cars with advanced generative AI to enhance machine adaptability to their environments. Acquiring the necessary data continues to pose a significant challenge in autonomous systems.

“Many tasks are beyond the reach of open-source models as they don’t align with human activities, like navigating minefields or managing weapons systems,” Sanders shared with TechCrunch. “We need to find the right balance between traditional robotics techniques and AI capabilities.”

Other competitors are facing similar challenges; for instance, Scout AI secured $100 million earlier this year to develop foundational models and a range of military autonomous platforms, including UGVs. Startups like Field AI and Overland AI are also testing UGVs alongside the US military.

Despite the hurdles confronting UGVs, American military experts assert that it’s time to invest in such capabilities. “Ground autonomy is now feasible, and we’ve witnessed its effectiveness,” Wilkens remarked.

Scott Philips, Forterra’s chief innovation officer, visited a Ukrainian unit’s operations center to observe the vehicles in action, earning the unit’s respect for venturing into high-risk areas vulnerable to Russian assaults.

“What impacted me most was recognizing the gaps: which processes are still manual, where data needs to be re-entered or verified manually, and areas where the team has already automated or expedited tasks,” Philips stated to TechCrunch. “Such on-the-ground insights are invaluable, pinpointing exactly where improved tools could lessen the workload for those engaged in real-time operations.”

One request from the Ukrainian forces: make costs more manageable. Although Forterra’s Lancers are competitively priced within their category, thanks to the utilization of Polaris’ commercial supply chain, they are still deemed too valuable for free deployment like UAVs.

“Attrition is a reality on this battlefield. We’ve already lost several, leading to serious setbacks, and we require more of them, which necessitates a more affordable solution,” the Ukrainian soldier stressed to TechCrunch.