What’s new at ARX Robotics Ukraine: local production of components and partnership with the UGV School of the 3rd Assault Brigade

The Ukrainian division of the German defence company ARX Robotics has started localising the production of components for its UGVs GEREON. The company’s CEO in Ukraine, Ihor Kornilov, told Defender Media about the initiative.

“We’re beginning the gradual localisation of component production,” he said. “We’re already engaging Ukrainian contractors to manufacture the parts needed for the modernisation and maintenance of our UGVs.”

The ARX Robotics Ukraine office focuses on servicing and upgrading GEREON vehicles supplied to Ukraine, as well as integrating Ukrainian technologies into them — including the Shablya and Burya turrets. Kornilov noted that the company’s ground drones are being modernised based on direct feedback from Ukrainian troops.

Kornilov also said that the company has been cooperating for several months with the UGV School established by the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade in Kyiv. “We provide the school with monthly financial support,” he said. “This funding covers part of the project’s operational costs.”

According to him, the school’s founders have already done tremendous work and continue to scale up their efforts — which is why business support is now crucial.

Kornilov added that ARX Robotics plans to donate a GEREON UGV to the school so it can be included in the training curriculum. In February 2025, the company delivered 30 GEREON UGVs to Ukraine’s Defence Forces.

The UGV School of the 3rd Assault Brigade is the first educational institution in Ukraine dedicated to training ground drone operators. Officially opened in March 2025, it currently provides courses for both military personnel and civilians.

Viktor Pavlov (“Stark”), commander of a UGV platoon and founder of the school, told Defender Media that the institution is now expanding — preparing to launch an engineering course. A separate facility is being set up, along with material and technical infrastructure and recruitment of qualified instructors. The school requires ₴4.4 million in funding, which it hopes to raise from private donors.