Robot Wars: Insights from Ukraine's Battlefield
The battlefield in Ukraine could soon feature more robots than human soldiers, according to a Ukrainian-British military start-up. The BBC visited UFORCE at its London premises, which are unbranded and discreet, a measure the company says is intended to protect it from potential Russian sabotage.
The visit was prompted by UFORCE's involvement in what Ukraine claims was an unprecedented military operation: enemy territory seized solely using robots and drones.
The claim was made by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video last month highlighting Ukraine's newly developed robotic weapons. Both sides have extensively employed unmanned aerial and land systems throughout the conflict, with analysts noting the war has dramatically accelerated military technology development. This has intensified debate about the future of warfare and its implications for both human and robotic soldiers.
150,000 Combat Missions
Zelensky has been eager to publicize what he describes as a first in the history of war; however, Ukraine's military has declined to provide details of the operation. Similarly, a UFORCE representative would not comment on the robotic battle described in Zelensky's video but confirmed that UFORCE's air, land, and sea drones are currently deployed in combat operations.
"I can't go into specifics about the operation or how UFORCE was involved, but we've conducted more than 150,000 successful combat missions since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022," said Rhiannon Padley, the firm's UK director of strategic partnerships.
What is clear is that robotic weapon systems represent a significant business opportunity. UFORCE has expanded rapidly and recently achieved "unicorn" status—a valuation exceeding $1 billion (£730 million).
Padley added that the phenomenon of robots fighting robots is likely to become more common, with unmanned systems potentially outnumbering human soldiers on the battlefield.
Russia is also deploying robots designed to deliver explosives into Ukrainian positions, and analysts predict advances in this technology will reshape future warfare.
"I really consider Ukraine to be a major teacher in the future of national defence and armaments," said Melanie Sisson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "It's an impressive case study in how necessity drives invention."
UFORCE is part of a growing group of so-called Neo-Prime defence companies, challenging established firms such as BAE Systems, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.
Another example is Anduril, a US defence technology company that conducted its first test flight of a pilotless fighter jet in February.
While most drones remain remotely operated by humans, companies like Anduril increasingly incorporate artificial intelligence into weapons systems.
UFORCE's land-based drones use software designed to assist with targeting, while Anduril states some of its systems can autonomously complete the final phase of an attack.
The US government has publicly urged its military to adopt artificial intelligence aggressively. In January, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the country needs to become an "AI-first warfighting force." China is also expanding its use of AI-enabled military systems, according to a US Department of Defense assessment published last year.
Analysts suggest a future where robots directly engage one another on the battlefield may be difficult to avoid.
"Ukrainian and Russian drones already fight each other," said Jacob Parakilas of RAND Europe, a think tank. "Seeing that extend to land and maritime warfare seems extremely likely, if not inevitable."
Human rights groups warn that greater autonomy in weapons systems raises serious accountability concerns.
"Militaries adopt AI to speed up processes such as target identification. But delegating life-and-death decisions to machines poses profound ethical and human rights risks," said Patrick Wilcken of Amnesty International.
Weapons manufacturers argue that maintaining a "human in the loop" addresses such concerns, emphasizing that decisions to deploy force remain with military personnel.
"Humans need rest and food, and under combat conditions those needs aren't always met," said Dr Rich Drake, UK general manager at Anduril Industries. "Computing allows us to reduce errors across what we call the kill chain."
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