The key facts
- GEREON from ARX Robotics is equipped with the Ukrainian remotely operated SABER weapon module from ROBONEERS
- The first armed vehicles are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026 according to the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
- The companies have also created a joint venture to produce the Rys Pro unmanned vehicle — targeting more than 1,000 units in the first year
Testing and delivery timelines
German company ARX Robotics and Ukrainian ROBONEERS have tested an armed ground robot for Ukrainian forces. According to Euronews, the first vehicles with the new weapon modules are to be ready for deployment and delivered by the end of 2026 in line with the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The cooperation agreement was signed in early October during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's state visit to Kyiv in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
How the system works
The platform is called GEREON: the unmanned vehicle from Germany's ARX Robotics provides mobility and power, and conducts reconnaissance using cameras and sensors. Mounted on top is the SABER weapon module from Ukraine's ROBONEERS — a remotely operated fire-support system for offensive and defensive tasks. According to the companies, this allows soldiers to operate the system from a safer distance. The SABER module is configurable: depending on the mission, different weapons can be installed, from rifles to grenade launchers. The goal of the cooperation is to create a single flexible robotic system that can be quickly adapted to different tasks at the front line.
What is already in use and other projects
Unarmed versions of GEREON are already in use in Ukraine: they transport supplies, evacuate the wounded, support electronic warfare, conduct reconnaissance and counter drones; the platform can also be adapted for combat missions. ARX Robotics states that GEREON is the largest fleet of Western unmanned ground vehicles deployed in Ukraine. ARX CFO and co-founder Maximilian Wied noted that modern land forces need combat platforms that can quickly adapt to different tasks and work with existing systems. ROBONEERS, for its part, reports that its robotics have been used in more than 15,000 missions at the front since 2014. The companies are already cooperating in other areas as well: they have established a joint venture to expand production of another unmanned vehicle, the Rys Pro, in Germany and Ukraine, targeting an output of more than 1,000 units in the first year.
Context: visit of the German Defence Minister
Separately, Euronews reports that artificial intelligence in defence is the focus of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who is visiting the headquarters of defence technology company Helsing in Munich. The visit programme includes an introduction to the company's latest AI products and capabilities, as well as meetings with management, staff and the works council. Helsing, founded in 2021, has quickly become one of Europe's most prominent defence technology companies: it develops AI and software for military systems, including technologies for adding AI capabilities to existing platforms — tanks, submarines and fighter jets.
