Ukrainian-Polish UGV UNEX secured $250,000 and access to a simplified US Army procurement pathway

The Ukrainian-Polish UGV UNEX is among five winners of the xTech Edge Strike Ground trials, held in Germany from March 3 to 13, 2026. Alongside other top-5, the company received $250,000 and gained access to a simplified US Army procurement pathway via the G-TEAD mechanism.

G-TEAD mechanism enables US Army units to acquire critical technologies more efficiently, bypassing lengthy tender procedures. For competition winners, this primarily offers an opportunity to secure contracts more rapidly and gain direct access to the end-user without protracted bureaucratic delays.

A total of 170 companies participated in the challenge, with 17 advancing to the final stage of live field trials. Following the evaluation, five winners were selected, including the amphibious UNEX UGV. The Ukrainian-Polish platform was represented at the competition by its American partner, Mountain Horse Solutions.

Participants were required to demonstrate platform performance across demanding terrain. Key requirements included remote operational capabilities and resilience to electronic warfare (EW) or signal loss. The system also proved its interoperability with military units. During the trials, the platform demonstrated its capacity to tow heavy hardware, including a JLTV military vehicle. It also successfully executed the remote deployment of FPV drones.

UNEX UGV is an unmanned ground platform featuring an electric powertrain and an amphibious architecture. It is engineered to operate in arduous off-road environments. These include marshes, snow, water, and contested urban areas. The vehicle can also traverse obstacles up to 1 metre in height.

The platform boasts a payload capacity of up to 1,700 kg. It is utilised for the transport of ammunition, engineering equipment, fuel, and water. It also carries other essential supplies. The system features an operational range of up to 80 km and an endurance of up to 6 hours. Its top speed reaches 20 km/h. Command and control are facilitated via a multi-channel digital communication system. This system supports various networks, including Silvus, Starlink, and LTE.

The system was developed by the international group ABRIS DG, which has Ukrainian roots and production facilities in Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The UGV was codified in Ukraine in 2025 and is currently available for order via the Brave1 state marketplace.

In addition to UNEX, the list of winners includes Milrem Robotics, ASAX Innovation OÜ, AZAK, and GaardTech USA. Most of the selected solutions fall under the category of unmanned, automated, and modular ground platforms, while GaardTech USA was recognised in the ground payload delivery systems category.