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Ukraine Adapts Ground Robot To Launch Jam-Proof Fiber-Optic Drones
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine’s domestically produced Ratel H ground robotic system has been upgraded to carry and launch fiber-optic FPV drones, expanding its operational role on the battlefield.
According to Ratel Robotics on February 18, the system has been fitted with a newly developed drone launch module that allows it to transport and deploy fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones from remote or high-risk areas without requiring operators to be physically present at the launch point.
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Ratel Robotics released video footage demonstrating the upgraded configuration. The company stated that the new attachment—described as a drone launch platform—enables the vehicle to carry and launch such drones directly from forward positions.
The module is designed to integrate into the base configuration of the Ratel H without affecting its mobility or cross-country performance.
According to Ratel Robotics, the launch platform can accommodate up to four fiber-optic FPV drones of varying sizes. The use of fiber-optic control is intended to reduce vulnerability to electronic warfare systems, which have become a significant factor in drone operations.
Unlike radio-controlled systems, fiber-optic-guided drones are less susceptible to jamming and can maintain stable control during missions in contested environments.
With the addition of the launch module, Ratel H effectively functions as a mobile drone deployment point and can be used in combined ground and aerial operations.
Ratel H is designed as a multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle. According to Ratel Robotics, it can be used for casualty evacuation, delivery of medical supplies and ammunition, and transportation of cargo weighing up to 400 kilograms.
The platform has a reported operational range of up to 60 kilometers and a deployment radius of approximately 50 kilometers. It is equipped with infrared headlights and night-vision cameras, allowing it to operate in low-visibility conditions.
Earlier, on February 17, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Ukrainian forces had conducted more than 7,000 combat and logistics missions using ground robotic systems in January alone, marking a shift from limited experimental use to routine frontline deployment.
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