Indian Defence Planners, Take Note! Ukraine Now Using Rifle-Wielding Robots To Battle Russia
In what sounds straight out of a sci-fi thriller, Ukrainian soldiers are now deploying weaponised robots in combat zones to take on Russian forces head-on. These are not the humanoid machines of Hollywood dreams, but something far more practical and real. Mounted on wheels or tracks, some look like tripods with guns, while others are miniature tanks with automated grenade launchers strapped to their backs.
Oleksandr Yabchanka, the head of robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, called the tech a 'game changer' for soldiers in the field. Business Insider has quoted him as saying that even the bravest infantry cannot keep firing under intense shelling but these robots can.
Indian defence planners, take note. While India debates the use of quadcopters and kamikaze drones, Ukraine has leapt ahead – fielding an evolving arsenal of ground-based killer bots. And they are not prototypes sitting in hangars, these machines are being tested, refined and modified live on the battlefield.
Yabchanka draws a wild comparison that makes the tech sound even more insane. He likens Ukraine's grenade-launching bots to the iconic weapon wielded by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, saying, 'They are somewhat similar, but slightly better.'
One such killer bot is the Burya – a remote grenade-launching turret that can be mounted on a tripod or a small vehicle. Another recent addition is the D-21-12R, an indigenous robotic beast equipped with a US-made Browning .50 caliber machine gun.
Approved in April by Ukraine's defence ministry, this machine could give nightmares to any enemy squad.
But there is a catch. These war machines still face technical limitations. Russian jamming and direct hits can knock them offline – turning them into nothing more than expensive scrap metal. That is one reason why they have not so far been deployed in large numbers, though their battlefield effectiveness continues to improve.
Lessons for India
Ukraine's wartime innovation lab is like no other. Companies from Ukraine, Estonia and beyond are in a technological race to outsmart Russian forces. Estonian firm Milrem Robotics, for instance, has already supplied its THeMIS Unmanned Ground Vehicles to Ukraine. These rugged bots can haul supplies or launch attacks where human soldiers cannot go.
Back home, this is a wake-up call. With India facing regular border stand-offs, especially with Pakistan and China, and gearing up for future conflicts in extreme terrains, why are not ground robots part of the military doctrine yet? Ukraine's battlefield data, gathered in real-time, proves that these robots are not sci-fi, they are survival tech.
Yabchanka, who regularly liaises with developers from the frontlines, says the feedback loop between soldiers and engineers has become a major strength for Ukraine. 'What was relevant six months ago is already outdated,' he told the publication, stressing that Europe and the West must co-develop with Ukraine.
As Ukraine continues to weaponise AI and automation, the question is no longer if but when countries like India will follow suit. Will Indian troops someday be supported by robotic gun crews on the icy heights of Ladakh or the dense jungles of the Northeast?
If the Ukraine war is any indication, the next battle will not only be fought with muscle but with machines as well. And they have already started pulling the trigger.
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Economic Times
17 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Ukraine's fate hangs in balance as Trump engages Putin in a high-stakes game behind closed doors
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads More about Trump-Putin summit U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have begun face-to-face talks in Alaska for a high-stakes summit that could determine the trajectory of the war in Ukraine and the fate of European allies have cast the U.S. president as a heavyweight negotiator who can find a way to bring the slaughter to a close, something he used to boast he could do quickly. For Putin, a summit with Trump offers a long-sought opportunity to try to negotiate a deal that would cement Russia's gains, block Kyiv's bid to join the NATO military alliance and eventually pull Ukraine back into Moscow's are significant risks for Trump: By bringing Putin onto U.S. soil, the president is giving Russia's leader the validation he desires after his ostracization following his invasion of Ukraine 3 1/2 years ago. Any success is far from assured, especially as Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their demands for joked in interview that he might start liking Hillary Clinton again It's because the former secretary of state said she'd nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize herself if he negotiates an end to Russia's war on Ukraine without Ukraine having to give up territory."Well, that was very nice," Trump said when asked about Clinton's comment during an in-flight interview with Fox News Channel. "I may have to start liking her again."Trump and Clinton were presidential rivals in 2016 and have had a contentious relationship. Trump has also been angling to be awarded the prestigious peace full Fox News interview is set to air later told interviewer he won't be happy unless he gets a ceasefire Interviewed by Bret Baier of Fox News Channel aboard Air Force One as he flew to Alaska, Trump said he'd like to walk away from the meeting with a also said he'd like a second meeting on Russia's war in Ukraine."I wouldn't be thrilled if I didn't get it," Trump said of a halt to hostilities between the countries. He said everyone tells him he won't get a ceasefire until a second meeting."So, we'll see what happens. I'm going to be, I won't be happy if I walk away without some form of a ceasefire," he leaders take no questions as they start their meeting The two leaders were seated in a room with their aides in front of a blue backdrop that had the words "Pursuing Peace" printed on and Putin were seated in the middle of the chair arranged in a horseshoe, with a small table between them with drinking glasses and didn't take any questions but Trump said, "Thank you" to reporters who were briefly in the and Putin arrive at meeting location The two leaders' motorcade made the short drive to a building on the base where they're expected to meet and hold a news conference Putin ride together in 'The Beast' Both leaders got into the backseat of Trump's armored presidential limousine, chatting with each other and smiling as they got jets designed during Cold War fly over Trump and Putin before summit President Donald Trump greeted Russian leader Vladimir Putin at an air base in Alaska on Friday as a squadron of U.S. stealth military planes designed during the Cold War in part for use in a possible conflict with the Soviet Union flew Trump and Putin shook hands at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson outside Anchorage, F-22s and B2 bombers soared above. Neither plane entered active service until after the Cold War had ended but their design and development began during the 1970s and 1980s when the U.S.-Soviet rivalry was at its presence of the planes during the red carpet welcome afforded to Putin by summit host Trump may have been intended to remind the Russian leader of U.S. military might as the pair head in to talks focused on Russia's war with Putin shake hands, again Both leaders stood alongside each other, shaking hands again, appearing to exchange words and ignoring shouted questions from reporters on and Putin meet face to face The two men shook hands and smiled warmly as they greeted each other on the tarmac at Joint Base media say Putin will use Russian-made limousine in Alaska Russian state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti reported Friday that President Vladimir Putin will use Aurus, a high-end Russian-made limousine, in agencies posted footage of a black limousine with Russian license plates and a small Russian flag attached to the hood driving around the brought Aurus on foreign trips before, and even gifted one to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last and Ushakov to join Putin in his 'three-on-three' meeting with Trump Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov will join the Russian leader during his "three-on-three" meeting with Trump, Rubio and and Ushakov took part in the first in-person Russia-US talks in February this arrives in the US for the first time in a decade The Russian president hasn't been to the United States since a 2015 meeting at the U.N. General Assembly in New International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on war crimes accusations for Putin in 2023. But the U.S. isn't a member of that global body, so officials are under no obligation to arrest from Trump-Putin summit, Zelenskyy says he hopes for ″strong position from the US' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed, during a video address on Friday, his hope for a "strong position from the U.S." ahead of talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska."Everyone wants an honest end to the war. Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible to end the war, and we hope for a strong position from the U.S.," Zelenskyy Ukrainian leader also stressed that Russia "is still killing people" despite the upcoming negotiations."The war continues and it continues precisely because there is no order, nor any signals from Moscow that it is preparing to end this war," he meets Alaska officials aboard plane as he waits for Putin to arrive Trump has yet to leave Air Force meeting aboard the aircraft with Alaska U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, as well as Gov. Mike Dunleavy, according to White House press secretary Karoline delegation reported to be en route to Russia-US summit venue Russian state news agencies RIA Novosti and Tass report that a motorcade with top Russian officials who are part of the delegation has departed to the summit foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said earlier that those joining the Russian president in Alaska will include himself, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Putin's envoy for investment and economic cooperation Kirill Rubio to join Trump in Putin meeting Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters aboard Air Force One that Trump won't be meeting Putin alone, as she had previewed earlier in the week, but instead will be joined the secretary of state and his special said it would be a three-on-three meeting instead of a planned lunch meeting with Putin was to include Rubio and Witkoff, along with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House chief of staff Susie are Trump and Putin meeting in Alaska? 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District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues the police takeover is illegal and threatens to "wreak operational havoc."Hillary Clinton has a message for Trump "If Donald Trump negotiates an end to Putin's war on Ukraine without Ukraine having to cede territory, I'll nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize myself," the former U.S. secretary of state wrote on has already said he believes a peace deal would likely require the swapping of Ukrainian territories by both Trump's 2016 Democratic opponent, linked to her appearance on the "Raging Moderates" podcast, where she offered Trump some advice: "He is not meeting with a friend. He is meeting with an adversary."But Clinton said that if Trump can negotiate a ceasefire, have Russia withdraw from the territory it seized and bring an end to the war without making Ukraine concede territory, she would join the Nobel and his allies have been lobbying for years for him to get the is studying up on his flight to Alaska, spokesman says Putin is scheduled to arrive at 11:00 a.m. local time Friday in Anchorage, where he will be met at the plane by Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Russian state TV, an excerpt of which was published on reporter Pavel Zarubin's Telegram channel on to Peskov, during the four-hour flight from Magadan, Putin will review materials on Ukraine, bilateral tensions, economic cooperation, and global speaks to Putin ally as he heads to Alaska The president posted on his social media network that he had "a wonderful talk" with the president of Belarus, Aleksandr said their "good" conversation included a discussion of Putin's said they also spoke about the release of some prisoners earlier this year and the future release of prisoners. He did not offer says drone attacks hurt Putin's negotiating position Trump said Russian drone attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine are a misguided effort to improve Putin's negotiating position."Maybe it's a part of the world. Maybe it's just his fabric, his genes, his genetics," Trump told reporters traveling with him to the Alaska summit. "But he thinks that gives him strength in negotiating. I think it hurts him, but I'll be talking to him about it later."Trump also talked on Air Force One about economic benefits for Russia, while warning of more severe sanctions if the talks aren't fruitful."I noticed he's bringing a lot of business people from Russia, and that's good," Trump said. "I like that because they want to do business, but they're not doing business until we get to war settled."
Economic Times
19 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Trump and Putin Alaska summit: US-Russia peace talks on Russia-Ukraine War
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska on August 15. The meeting aims to discuss a possible peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Trump says chances of success are low. The world is watching closely as tensions remain high. Key points: Trump, Putin, Alaska summit, Russia-Ukraine war, peace talks. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads When and Where will the frenemies meet Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How hopeful is White House FAQs The US President Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin would be embracing each other in Alaska on Friday, hoping to break the thaw over their negotiations for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine—as a three year long war between the neighbours shows no signs of meeting, set to happen in a city named Anchorage in Alaska, is expected to commence at 11:30 am on Anchorage time on August 15, and 3:30 pm on Eastern time zone, reports said. The meeting has the eyes of the whole of Europe glued, as the war between Russia and Ukraine shows no signs of said that till now, Putin has fended off Donald Trump's attempts to strengthen arms into a deal, inviting the POTUS's ire and invoking frustration, as the peace deal was one of Trump's foremost promises during the however, Trump is known to be softer on Russia as compared to his negotiation tactics with other nations, as reports said that he actually pulled down Zelensky—publically—during an oval office meeting, blaming him for instigating World War has tried to play down expectations of a peace deal-- pinged on the Alaska summit--previously saying that he sees a 25% chance of a breakthrough being reached between him and President Putin in a recently released video footage with Fox News anchor Bret Baier from inside the Air Force One—on its way to Alaska—Trump is seen shrugging off the possibility of wasting too much time in Alaska if his objectives are not met.A video clip now doing the rounds on X—shows the POTUS in conversation with Fox New's Bret Baier. "work out very well — and if it doesn't, I'm going to head back home real fast." Trump told Baier while referring to his meeting with and Putin will meet in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15 at 11:30 am local time (3:30 pm Eastern time).Trump has said there is only a 25% chance of a breakthrough peace deal during the Alaska meeting.
News18
19 minutes ago
- News18
Trump, Putin Greet Each Other After Alaska Landing, Shake Hands & Leave Together In Beast
Trump, Putin Greet Each Other After Alaska Landing, Shake Hands & Leave Together In Beast In a historic moment that could well shape the future between Moscow and Kyiv, Russian President Vladimir Putin walked down the red carpet laid out for his welcome in Alaska, as US President Donald Trump welcomed him with a handshake ahead of the all-important talks on ending the war in Ukraine.
