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Ukraine Debuts “Murena” Feed System to Power Heavy Machine Guns and Combat Robots
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
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At the Brave1 defense technology exhibition, Ukrainian developers introduced “Murena,” a modular ammunition feed system designed to ensure continuous and stable ammunition supply for machine guns and automatic grenade launchers across multiple combat scenarios.
According to Militarnyi on July 23, the system is compatible with a wide range of belt-fed weapons used by Ukraine’s Defense Forces, including the PKM, M240, M2 Browning (.50 BMG/12.7×99 mm), and the Mk19 automatic grenade launcher.
Murena is available in both stationary configurations with an ammunition container and flexible conduit, as well as in portable backpack-mounted versions tailored for assault operations.
Developer Taras Holota explained that the main engineering challenge was achieving reliable ammunition flow around bends in the belt path—an issue that varies by caliber and type of belt.
“The most difficult task was adapting the system for .50 BMG and 12.7 mm belts,” he said. “But we achieved the required result.”
Murena is currently undergoing integration with a range of remotely operated weapon stations and unmanned ground platforms (UGVs).
The system has already been tested with DevDroid turrets and Moroz robotic platforms, with ongoing efforts to incorporate it into the “ShaBlya” turret system. Holota noted that each turret presents unique parameters for angles, feeding speed, and weight distribution.
Special attention is being paid to calculating the system’s center of mass to maintain platform stability and mobility.
Despite its growing adoption, the system is not being submitted for formal codification by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense. Holota said the certification process would increase the product’s cost by 30–40 percent due to administrative requirements.
Instead, Murena is being sold directly to military units under a simplified procurement procedure enabled by Cabinet Resolution No. 1275. The price, established in 2022 during early deployments to units near Bakhmut, remains unchanged.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Fulltime Robotics unveiled the “Slim Beam” laser turret—a compact system designed to disable drones, blind sensors, and clear explosive obstacles. The device offers multiple counter-drone modes and is aimed at both military and civilian use.
