The Ukrainian designs and the announcement of mass orders for Unmanned Combat Vehicles, which in international terminology have been established to be identified as UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles), created a positive development in the NATO armies.
The Ukrainians have been using UGVs for three years now, in logistical roles (transporting the wounded, advancing ammunition and supplies to the fighting units, etc.) and in the last year also in combat roles! The accumulated and dense Ukrainian operational experience over time has led the Ukrainians to utilize equipped UGVs, with many successes. Small sectors of the front as well as the maintenance of the physiognomy of the battle were “assigned” to UGVs, with very positive results.
Of course, the big “bet” remains the operational and technological integration of UGVs into the structures of the maneuver forces. It is obvious that the complexes of the future motorized companies, the tank units and the tactical complexes of the motorized battalions and tank headquarters will also have armed UGVs that will perform reconnaissance missions, flank and rear cover, direct fire support, etc.
Consequently, operational and technological experimentation is needed… Whoever dares to utilize – even prematurely – new technologies and to operationally integrate new technological means, gains a significant advantage… The confrontation in Ukraine has already turned into a testing ground, of enormous scale, of new technologies, new weapon systems, new tactics and practices. Whoever gains a significant lead will “kneel” the opponent…
The Ukrainians, due to the static nature of the front, are accustomed to advancing equipped UGVs to the front line so as not to expose the personnel, who are kept at a safe distance, further back. Technology does not “provide” – for now – fully autonomous combat UGVs and it seems that we are several years away from seeing them dominate the land field… In the air and at sea, “things” are technologically easier and there the first fully autonomous, unmanned vehicles will obviously appear…
For now, and especially for the land battlefield, there is always a human in the decision-making and action loop (human-in-the-loop). Obviously, we will see equipped UGVs assisted, to a large extent, by artificial intelligence (AI-enabled), while semi-autonomous ones will not be long in coming.
Very recently, the Greek EODH Company presented at the Defense Redefined 2026 conference, which took place at the end of February, in Nicosia, a relevant comprehensive proposal for the modification – upgrade of Leopard 1A5 tanks, which, among other things, is proposed to have an organic tethered (attached) battlefield observation – surveillance drone and an equipped UGV that can and/or be towed by the tank (for reasons of saving electricity or charging if necessary) in the field or simply “accompany” and act operationally together, with the UGV operator being inside the tank.
For the LEO 1A5 tank, its upgrade and modification were proposed, so that it has an additional crew position, next to the tank driver. In the current version, there is a 105 mm ammunition magazine and ammunition in addition to those ready for use (upright) is stored in the loader’s compartment. A key conclusion from the Ukrainian war is the limited use of artillery shells, compared to previous wars, due to the very large dispersion – dilution of forces, to avoid targeting and attack by offensive drones or artillery.
The accuracy and speed of fire have also been dramatically improved and accelerated, resulting in an effective attack. Another conclusion regarding the limitation of the tank’s vulnerability consists in the pursuit of removing stored artillery shells, inside the hull, which are at risk – secondarily – of exploding, in the event of a mine explosion.
For Armoured Battle tanks, in Ukraine, it was found that there are four main threats to their destruction:
- anti-tank mines,
- top attack anti-tank weapons,
- all kinds of attack drones & roving munitions and
- finally artillery fire.
Older tanks such as the M47 and M24 also had a fifth crew member (a machine gunner, next to the tank driver). In this proposal, gun ammunition is removed from the hull, next to the driver, and a symmetrical – with respect to the tank driver – crew position with a hatch is created. There will be the workstation of the fifth crew member who is the one who operates the armed reconnaissance and attack UGV that accompanies the tank and is the one who also takes off/lands and operates the tethered reconnaissance drone that the tank also has.
The latter allows much better and unobstructed observation behind a covering volume. It is usually a quadcopter, small in size, because it only carries the observation equipment and the electric motors for rotating its propellers. It is powered by a twin cable connected to the tank’s electrical system, it transfers the observation image via the cable and can fly without energy limitations.
It is electrically powered by the tank and its communication is not interfered with, due to the wired connection. Its thermal and optical footprint is extremely limited. The operator’s workload is also limited and he can take off/land it in its “nest” with short commands. Finally, it can fly and accompany the tank when it changes, moving at limited speed. Its use significantly increases tactical awareness in command tanks and not only.
The unmanned UGV that was proposed carried a remotely controlled RWS (Remote Weapon Station) turret equipped with a 0 50” machine gun and full electro-optical observation means. Thus, it will be able, remotely controlled from within the tank, to move away to a sufficient distance (e.g. 2 km), observe, that is, “transfer” an image, attack targets, perform reconnaissance by fire, etc. Tactically, it can precede a battle formation or cover the flanks and rear.
For example, three such UGVs directed by an equal number of tanks can adequately perform such missions, within the framework of an Ili complex. Their operators, from within the tanks, can direct them and handle their fire, through the direct connection of the driving cameras and the optics of the UGVs, as well as through the tethered drones that will be located high up, providing unhindered observation.
Modifying an existing tank is very easy. Therefore, it is worth experimenting and testing new techniques, new practices in the field, new means, new weapons and “marrying” them with existing ones in order to limit costs and increase the operational effectiveness of our means in today’s theater of operations.
The photo above shows the proposed internal modification for the upgraded Leopard 1A5 armoured battle tank with an integrated drone and equipped UGV. The operator position of the equipped UGV and the tethered drone can be seen.
