Ukraine has announced that its Lyut (Fury) tactical unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) is now deployed in the Sumy region to fend off Russian soldiers. The Lyut is a mini-tank armed with a machine gun that was commissioned into the armed forces in February 2022, supporting Kyiv’s continuous adoption of autonomous systems to aid its warfighters.
A video released by the Ukrainian defense intelligence arm on Telegram showcased the combat robot establishing a secure communication line, maneuvering through complex terrain, and relaying photographic data to a command post. According to the directorate, the Lyut successfully reached enemy positions and was able to utilize its weapon to eliminate several Russian troops.
The Lyut UGV is equipped with an advanced communication suite that is found in commercial autonomous platforms, allowing for uninterrupted control. It has been trialed over 30 times for navigation and attack, receiving upgrades prior to its induction to ensure operability in an active field.
The vehicle is fitted with a PKT 7.62-millimeter belt-fed machine gun capable of engaging hostiles at distances of up to 800 meters (2,625 feet). Additionally, it has a communication range of 2 kilometers (1.2 miles), with previous tests demonstrating connectivity with users at 700 meters (2,297 feet) in environments filled with obstacles.
Ukraine noted during the drone’s launch that experienced troops require only brief training to operate the system, thus enabling accelerated fielding on short notice.
