Estonian Combat Robots in Ukraine Enhanced with Starlink Connectivity

 

Estonian-made THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in Ukraine are now equipped with Starlink satellite connectivity, allowing for remote operation from thousands of kilometers away. This development was announced by Milrem Robotics, the manufacturer of these vehicles, which is based in Estonia and owned by a United Arab Emirates company.

A specially equipped THeMIS vehicle will be showcased at the upcoming Eurosatory 2024 trade show, according to the company’s statement. The THeMIS variant designed for cargo transportation will utilize Starlink, a satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. To date, Milrem has supplied more than a dozen THeMIS vehicles to Ukrainian forces.

For the integration of this new feature, Milrem collaborated with Dutch data link firm AEC Skyline. The company emphasized that with satellite connectivity, the THeMIS robotic vehicle can efficiently transmit data, receive commands, and relay critical information in real-time, regardless of its battlefield location.

Starlink's ground terminals, essential for using the satellite system, were first shipped to Kyiv shortly after Russia's invasion in February 2022. By June 2023, there were tens of thousands of these terminals in Ukraine, including 500 provided by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Starlink satellites operate in low-Earth orbit, less than 600 kilometers (370 miles) above Earth, which enhances the performance of the system.

Recently, Russian Telegram channels posted images purportedly showing a damaged, captured THeMIS combat robot. Milrem declined to comment on the images but acknowledged awareness of the situation.