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Dubbing the platforms “iron soldiers” in July, the ministry said it aimed to have to drones fulfill combat orders for troops, and mentioned robots that can act as sappers, recon, gun platforms, and logistics assistants.
Russia has also been seen using unmanned ground platforms, such as two drones armed with AGS-17 grenade launchers spotted in March.
Ukraine expects to build over 1 million drones in 2024 after galvanizing production late last year. This is an exponential leap in production since the war began in early 2022.
Kyiv said it had produced 50 times more drones in December alone compared to the entirety of the war’s first year.
The war has, in recent months, also featured a smattering of new drone unveilings, including that of an aerial drone that can drop thermite on the battlefield and another equipped with an AK-74 rifle.
Meanwhile, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow plans to bump drone production to 1.4 million in 2024, which would be about a 10-fold increase compared to previous years.