Fedorov's Army of Robots Sets a Six-Month Clock for a Humanoid Kill
Ukraine's former defense minister wants private capital to push ground robotics past the remote-controlled supply runs that dominate the front today.
Ukraine's former defense minister wants private capital to push ground robotics past the remote-controlled supply runs that dominate the front today.
Mykhailo Fedorov, dismissed as Ukraine's defense minister in July, launched an initiative called Army of Robots on Sept. 26 at the IT Arena conference in Lviv and opened applications for defense-tech companies, engineers and a CTO, he announced on X.
Fedorov describes it as an ecosystem rather than one company. It will invest in defense-tech firms, start its own projects, build R&D capacity, test systems with the military and scale what works in combat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Army of Robots?
An initiative launched by former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Sept. 26 to invest in defense-tech firms, run its own robotics projects, test systems with the military and scale what works, per his announcement on X.
What targets has Fedorov set?
A humanoid robot killing an enemy soldier within six months, and an assault on an enemy position without infantry within 12 months, Ukrainska Pravda and the Indian Express reported.
What will the humanoid robots do first?
Simple mechanical tasks such as reloading a machine gun, replacing a battery or installing a sensor, Fedorov said at IT Arena in Lviv.
Who is funding it?
No budget has been disclosed. Fedorov's separate defense-tech investment fund, announced in August, named Palantir CEO Alex Karp as its first lead investor, Tech.eu reported.
Are Ukraine's ground robots autonomous today?
Mostly not. Most Ukrainian UGVs are steered directly by human operators, often over Starlink, according to the Indian Express.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.