German Defense Giant DIEHL Becomes First Foreign Firm to Test Military Robotics in Ukraine's Brave1 Initiative

German defense manufacturer DIEHL has become the first foreign company to join Test in Ukraine—a new initiative by Ukraine’s defense tech cluster Brave1—by trialing its ground-based robotic platform on Ukrainian soil.

The announcement was made by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov on July 28.

“Recently, we launched Test in Ukraine and opened the opportunity for global manufacturers to test their developments in combat conditions. Ukraine’s unique experience helps create effective solutions capable of changing the situation on the battlefield. International companies are already testing their potential at our training grounds,” Fedorov said.

DIEHL, best known for its IRIS-T air defense systems, conducted its first field test under the initiative at the training center of Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade.

According to Defense Express on July 28, while the specific unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) tested has not been officially disclosed, it has been identified as the Ziesel UGV. This platform is designed primarily to support infantry operations, particularly in logistics and medical evacuation roles, and has been showcased in this capacity as early as 2020.

During the trial, the company’s team was able to evaluate its technology in conditions close to real combat. Ukrainian soldiers with hands-on experience operating robotic platforms provided direct feedback and recommendations on how to adapt the system to frontline demands.

Earlier, former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has signed a memorandum of understanding with DIEHL Defense, the producer of the IRIS missile family.

According to Umerov, the agreement lays the groundwork for large-scale industrial cooperation to enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. It also envisions a threefold increase in the supply of missiles and air defense systems.

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