Key facts
- Over 100 Forterra Lancer autonomous ATVs have been deployed in Ukraine for nine months.
- The vehicles are funded by US defense dollars and are used for logistics, casualty evacuation, and surveillance.
- Forterra's vehicles can carry 750 kg of cargo and have driven over 2,500 miles in over 1,100 missions.
- Ukrainian soldiers primarily teleoperate the vehicles due to their value and current autonomy limitations.
- Full autonomy for identifying and reacting to unexpected enemy threats is not yet achieved.
Forterra, a US-based autonomous vehicle manufacturer, has deployed over 100 of its self-driving ATVs in conflict zones in Ukraine for the past nine months. This deployment is believed to be the largest of its kind by a US defense tech company.
Funded by US defense dollars, the initiative supports Ukraine's resistance against Russian forces. The need for ground-based autonomy has arisen due to the extensive no-go zones created by aerial drones, which make ground movement highly vulnerable to attack. Ukrainian strategists are seeking autonomous solutions to mitigate these risks.
Forterra's Lancer vehicles, based on Polaris ATVs, are gas-powered and can carry up to 750 kilograms of cargo, offering greater versatility than the typically battery-powered Ukrainian-built UGVs, which have a capacity of around 250 kilograms. These vehicles have been instrumental in logistics, moving supplies and munitions, and have completed 52 casualty evacuations.
Since their arrival in Ukraine in October, the vehicles have driven more than 2,500 miles across over 1,100 missions. However, some units have been lost in combat, particularly in challenging terrain. Forterra has learned valuable lessons regarding electronic warfare, remote software updates, maneuverability, and vehicle reliability, which are informing future defense contracts.
Currently, Ukrainian soldiers largely teleoperate the vehicles, as they are too valuable to risk losing and the current level of autonomy is insufficient for identifying and reacting to unexpected enemy threats in real-time. Forterra is working on integrating generative AI with classical robotics to enhance autonomous capabilities, addressing challenges like navigating minefields or operating weapon systems.
Competitors such as Scout AI are also developing similar autonomous platforms for military use. Despite current limitations, American military experts, like Sergeant Major Corey Wilkens, believe ground autonomy is now achievable and warrants investment. Forterra's chief innovation officer, Scott Philips, noted the importance of "ground truth" from the battlefield to identify areas for automation and improvement, with a key Ukrainian request being for cheaper, more expendable vehicles.