Ukraine’s AIDRONESUA to jointly produce MAUL evacuation UGV in Sweden with local NJORD Technology

Ukrainian company AIDRONESUA and Sweden’s NJORD Technology AB will jointly manufacture the MAUL evacuation UGV in Sweden under a strategic memorandum of understanding signed during the Eurosatory 2026 international defence exhibition.

An AIDRONESUA representative told Defender Media that the partners are targeting an annual production capacity of 400–500 robotic platforms, which are expected to be supplied to the Ukrainian Defence Forces.

The companies are currently completing the documentation required to launch the project and have already held meetings and consultations with the relevant Swedish authorities. They also plan to establish a Swedish legal entity in the near future to oversee local manufacturing operations.

Under the memorandum, AIDRONESUA will be responsible for the platform’s development and further upgrades based on battlefield experience, while NJORD Technology AB will provide manufacturing and engineering support. The partnership is expected to expand production capacity and shorten delivery times for the robotic systems.

NJORD Technology AB stated that the partnership with the Ukrainian company is expected to contribute to the development of new robotic solutions, strengthen technological cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine, and support the implementation of joint innovation projects.

What is known about the MAUL

The MAUL is a specialised unmanned ground vehicle designed to evacuate wounded personnel from areas that are too dangerous or inaccessible for combat medics or evacuation teams. Ukrainian company AIDRONESUA is the developer and sole owner of all intellectual property rights to the system. During the platform’s development, the company incorporated the practical experience of military medics, specifically specialists from the First Separate Medical Battalion.

Unlike many electric platforms, the MAUL uses a 4×4 wheeled chassis powered by an internal combustion engine, providing an operational range of up to 110 km on paved roads and up to 100 km off-road. The vehicle has a top speed of 50 km/h on paved roads and up to 40 km/h across rough terrain. It has a payload capacity of up to 200 kg, while deployment takes up to 10 minutes.

The vehicle is also equipped with day and infrared cameras, supports up to 48 hours of autonomous standby mode, and provides up to five hours of continuous operation. The platform’s design allows it to be used for casualty evacuation, logistics operations, and cargo transport in challenging environments.

Defender Media previously reported on the operational use of the MAUL evacuation UGV, manufactured by Ukrainian company DevDroid under a licence from AIDRONESUA. In 2025, the parties signed a licensing agreement granting DevDroid the right to produce the platform.

As part of preparing the MAUL for serial production, DevDroid codified the system and integrated its proprietary DroidBox remote control system. However, all intellectual property rights to the UGV remain with AIDRONESUA as the developer and owner of the platform.

The DroidBox system supports multiple communication channels, including a fibre-optic link and satellite internet, while allowing the integration of additional communications tools depending on customer requirements.