Brave1 and Defence Intelligence of Ukraine conduct first trials of Ukrainian remotely controlled buggies

The Brave1 cluster, together with 33 GROUP, part of the Timur Special Unit of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, conducted the first closed trials of remotely controlled buggies developed by Ukrainian manufacturers. Brave1 announced this in a press release.

Brave1 also included remotely controlled buggies in a new grant programme. The vehicle requirements were developed jointly with military personnel. According to the cluster, more than half of the buggy projects currently under development in Ukraine have already received grants.

Brave1 said the military’s need for affordable, highly mobile, fast vehicles capable of operating under either conventional or remote control is driving development in this area. This requirement becomes particularly pressing as winter approaches. According to the cluster, electric UGVs handle a significant share of frontline logistics but face limitations in speed and cross-country mobility over winter terrain.

During the trials, military personnel operated the vehicles themselves, assessed them against criteria considered critical for frontline use and provided feedback. The manufacturers are already refining their systems based on these comments.

Next, the team will test the remaining systems and work with the Ministry of Defence to scale up buggy deployment on the battlefield. Brave1 is also working to ensure that every Ukrainian system currently under development receives a reliable remote-control system.

The cluster noted that Ukraine’s Defence Forces already use foreign-made buggies, but their wider deployment is constrained by high costs and the lack of remote-control capability. Brave1 says its objective is to establish a fully developed market for Ukrainian buggies.