Soldiers of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade hit a heavy enemy armored vehicle — a Russian MT-LB along with its crew — using the Droid TW 12.7 reconnaissance and strike complex from the Ukrainian company DevDroid. This is the first documented case of a ground robot destroying enemy armored vehicles in real combat.
Soldiers of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade hit a heavy enemy armored vehicle — a Russian MT-LB along with its crew — using the Droid TW 12.7 reconnaissance and strike complex from the Ukrainian company DevDroid. This is the first documented case of a ground robot destroying enemy armored vehicles in real combat.
“The TW 12.7 Droid performed well, the operators were able to accurately inflict fire damage and control the situation, while being far away in a safe place, the cold-blooded work of technology in the hands of trained soldiers, this is what the future of technological warfare looks like,” comments the Commander of the Ground Robotic Systems Company of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade with the call sign Agronom.
This case highlights the rapid evolution of Ukrainian defense-tech solutions and opens a new page in the application of remotely controlled systems on the battlefield, DevDroid notes.
Droid TW 12.7 was created by a team of Ukrainian engineers at DevDroid as a comprehensive solution for reconnaissance and fire missions on the battlefield. The combination of remote control, built-in ballistic computer and artificial intelligence algorithms allows the platform to accurately detect, capture and engage targets, reducing risks to personnel.
"The goal of DevDroid is to change the very logic of combat. Our principle — "Control the battlefield remotely" — means not just transferring fire to a safe distance, but a comprehensive transformation of the approach to performing combat missions: the operator remains under protection, and the robot takes on the most risky stages of the operation — reconnaissance and direct destruction of the target. This combination of remote control, stable communication, and automatic guidance systems increases accuracy, reduces reaction time, and minimizes human losses, making operations more effective and predictable," adds Yuriy Poritsky, CEO of DevDroid.
The Droid TW 12.7 is designed to perform a wide range of combat missions on the front line. Equipped with a remotely controlled turret for a 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, it allows it to effectively engage lightly armored targets such as infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and armored vehicles. The system is also capable of engaging unarmored targets, including vehicles and other enemy equipment.
In addition, the robot is effectively used to engage unprotected targets, including enemy manpower, at short and medium ranges. Thanks to its high accuracy and firepower, the Droid TW 12.7 can suppress platoon and strongpoints, as well as enemy positions.
A separate area of application of the complex is remote surveillance of the battlefield - using built-in cameras and data transmission systems, the operator receives situational awareness in real time, while maintaining a safe distance.
Thus, the Droid TW 12.7 can be used for both defensive and offensive operations: from reconnaissance and fire support of units to pinpoint strikes on enemy targets in difficult terrain or under fire.
The platform design provides high cross-country ability in difficult terrain and off-road.
Main technical characteristics:
Weapon type and caliber: M2 Browning 12.7 machine gun
Maximum speed: 7 km/h
Maximum range: up to 1 km
Range: 25 km
Guidance system: manual control and auto-guidance using AI
Communication systems: Starlink and LTE (as standard) and Mesh (at the customer's request).
According to the company, the complex has been tested in real combat conditions and has proven its effectiveness, while being characterized by minimal deployment time from transportation to combat readiness.
Recall, a year ago, the Droid TW 12.7 was the first in Ukraine to receive a module with a Browning machine gun .
