Ukrainian Armed Forces use robotic dogs at the front

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are using new assistants on the front line – robotic dogs. These metal ‘dogs’ perform the most dangerous tasks, such as reconnaissance of enemy trenches or mine detection, writes KyivPost.

During a demonstration for journalists in an unknown region of Ukraine, the BAD One robot dog from the British company Brit Alliance demonstrated its capabilities by following the operator’s commands: standing up, crouching, running and jumping. The robot is equipped with a battery that provides up to two hours of operation.

The developers note that these discreet and manoeuvrable machines can become indispensable helpers for the Ukrainian army, which is experiencing a shortage of personnel at the front.

Due to their small size, robot dogs are difficult to detect, and thermal imagers allow them to effectively conduct reconnaissance in enemy trenches and buildings.

Robodogs can not only detect mines and explosive devices, but also transport up to seven kilograms of ammunition or medicine to the hottest spots on the battlefield. If the robot falls into enemy hands, it has an emergency switch that allows the operator to erase all data.

A more advanced model, BAD Two, was not demonstrated for security reasons.

German Bild reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are already using more than 30 BAD Two robot dogs at the front. These robotic dogs are silent, move at speeds of up to 15 km/h, and can operate in enemy territory within a 3.5 km radius for up to five hours. Thanks to special anti-thermal camouflage from the German company Concamo, they are almost impossible to detect.

The cost of the robots depends on the model and ranges from €4,000 to €8,000.