Netherlands expands Ukraine’s reactivity with more than 150 new THeMIS UGVs.

Milrem Robotics will deliver more than 150 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine in a defense aid program financed and coordinated by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.

The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has approved the delivery of over 150 Milrem Robotics THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine as part of a European defense support initiative announced on October 6, 2025. Production will be managed by Milrem Robotics Netherlands with final assembly at VDL Defentec’s new facility in Born, where scalable lines are being prepared for both this contract and future export orders. The program includes operator and maintenance training for Ukrainian personnel and will run through 2026, adding to earlier THeMIS units already in Ukrainian service since 2022.
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The THeMis UGV can be equipped to cover logistics, ISR, combat, and EOD roles, as well as integrating remote weapon stations, anti-tank guided missiles, and loitering munitions, depending on the mission. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Under the agreement, Milrem Robotics Netherlands will manage the production, integration, and delivery process, while VDL Defentec will supervise the final assembly phase. The newly created assembly line is intended to allow expansion for future export orders beyond this delivery. The program includes comprehensive training for Ukrainian operators and maintenance personnel, ensuring that the vehicles can be fielded and supported under sustained combat conditions. This initiative follows Milrem’s September 2025 statement indicating a record order financed by an unnamed European country, which has now been identified as the Netherlands. Initial deliveries are expected to take place before the end of 2025, and the production and training efforts are expected to continue over a 12 to 18-month period. Both Milrem and VDL have emphasized that this project strengthens European industrial cooperation in defense production.

The new batch will add to the 15 THeMIS vehicles already in Ukrainian service, which have been used since 2022 for logistical missions, casualty evacuation, and support operations near the frontlines. Milrem Robotics has previously supplied six THeMIS-based ROCUS (Route Clearance Unmanned Systems) to France’s CNIM Systèmes Industriels for delivery to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, following an earlier batch of seven systems sent in 2022. The ROCUS configuration incorporates route clearance payloads designed to extend stand-off distance from explosive threats and improve the safety of demining teams. The THeMIS platform has also been integrated in Ukraine with the BURIA remote weapon station developed by the Ukrainian firm Frontline, which mounts a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. This configuration achieved successful results in live-fire trials conducted under operational conditions, engaging targets at distances of up to 1,100 meters while allowing remote operation.

Developed by Milrem Robotics in Estonia, the THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System) is a hybrid diesel-electric unmanned ground vehicle designed for modularity and multi-mission capability. The system can operate in logistics, combat, reconnaissance, and explosive ordnance disposal roles, with payloads up to 1,200 kilograms and a maximum speed of approximately 20 kilometers per hour. It can be fitted with various weapon stations, including light and heavy machine guns, 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, 30 mm autocannons, and anti-tank missile systems. The open-architecture design supports multiple mission payloads such as sensors, cameras, and electronic warfare equipment. The hybrid powertrain provides up to 15 hours of endurance in combined mode and up to 1.5 hours in full electric operation, depending on mission profile. The system can be transported by helicopter and configured for remote or semi-autonomous control with a line-of-sight range of up to 1.5 kilometers.

The THeMIS has been adopted by 19 countries, including eight NATO members, making it one of the most widely fielded UGVs in its weight category. It has been deployed operationally in Mali under Operation Barkhane and in Ukraine during the Russian invasion. The U.S. Army’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) has also acquired a THeMIS unit equipped with Milrem’s Intelligent Functions Integration Kit (MIFIK) for testing in Arctic environments. This version features advanced autonomous navigation capabilities and allows testing of the platform’s resistance to extreme cold. Milrem claims a production capacity of up to 500 vehicles annually and continues to fulfill orders from military customers in Australia, Estonia, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.

Beyond Ukraine, the THeMIS has been used in various configurations with European and international partners. At the DSEI 2025 exhibition in London, Milrem displayed multiple configurations, including the integration of Moog’s Flexible Mission Platform with launchers from Thales, Saab’s Mobile Short-Range Air Defence system (MSHORAD) mounted on the THeMIS chassis, and a configuration combining the MARSS NiDAR command-and-control platform with the EOS R400 remote weapon station. In the United Kingdom, Milrem is developing a localized version of the THeMIS in cooperation with Overwatch Aerospace, MSI-Defence Systems, and Pearson Engineering. This variant combines the TERRAHAWK remote weapon station with Overwatch’s APEX unmanned aerial system to merge aerial and ground robotic capabilities. Such adaptations underline how European defense firms are incorporating modular unmanned systems into national development and testing programs.

Armed conflicts over the past five years, notably in Ukraine, Syria, and the Caucasus, have demonstrated that remotely operated and semi-autonomous ground platforms can perform repetitive, hazardous, or logistically demanding missions while reducing personnel requirements. Governments have also expanded investment in such systems due to the rising cost of manpower, the availability of standardized control architectures, and the need to maintain continuous operations in environments exposed to artillery, mines, and drones. Technological progress in hybrid propulsion, artificial intelligence, and secure communication links has enabled these vehicles to operate in coordination with other manned/unmanned assets. Industrially, the combination of modular chassis and open software interfaces allows defense contractors to adapt existing vehicles for different clients and missions, facilitating the large-scale production and the integration of these UGVs into tactical doctrines across both NATO and non-NATO militaries.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.