Robodog Warfare: Ukraine Plans Kamikaze Canine Drones in War with Russia

Robodogs — An Innovative Weapon

In the Ukraine-Russia war dogs will also participate, albeit the ones with wires in them rather than a heart. Ukraine’s 28th Mechanized Brigade posted an Instagram video in August featuring tests being done on a robodog’s all-terrain capability in the wilderness, Popular Mechanics reported. According to experts, this method aids the country in fighting on the battlefield with less manpower compared to Russia. It also helps the country in risk mitigation of their military personnel. The country reportedly is looking forward to involving robodogs in combat.

Supply of Robodogs

Brit Alliance, a UK-based security company has supplied many robo-hounds to Ukraine authorities, The New York Post reported. The military has sent close to 30 on the battlefield to perform reconnaissance missions and swiftly deliver supplies to troops. Brit Alliance’s CEO shared with the public that these machines were made to reduce risks to human life in functions like reconnaissance, de-mining, and logistics, Telegraph reported. The company hopes to inculcate more improvement in its design after feedback from the Ukrainian forces.  A commander of Ukraine’s Kurt & Company unit shared that the force has more expansive plans with the robodogs. "We will start using them en masse after the complete modernization of the robodogs to our needs," the commander said. "The process is already underway."

Features of Robodogs

The robots dubbed "BAD2," contain remote-sensing technology and a thermal-infrared camera, The New York Post reported. These features allow the machines to go through difficult trenches and wooded areas, a task aerial drones face considerable difficulty in completing. As per officials, these robodogs can move at 9 mph for up to five hours and can carry more than 15 pounds of supplies and ammunition. Authorities believe that the machine if put to test for guiding military personnel will be able to trigger bobby traps in the frontline, alerting officers to danger in front of them. 

Using Kamikaze Robodogs

Kamikaze refers to vehicles usually sent to enemy areas loaded with explosives to cause destruction, Popular Mechanics reported. Ukraine has utilized cheaper aerial FPV kamikaze drones in the war to great benefit and believes robodogs will be a step up in the proceedings. Officials believe robodogs will help them effectively attack targets inside buildings, trenches, bunkers, or dense forests. This is not the first time an 'animal' has been used in war efforts. In World War II, Ukraine and Russia both tied ammunition to dogs to target enemy tanks. The drawback of this strategy was more often than not these dogs were scared by live bombs on site and ran around instead of focusing on their target. This situation won't crop up in the case of 'robodogs', as per officials. Authorities still need certain updates in the machine to deploy them for combat. Officials hope that companies can supply them with robodogs that can be operated from a safe distance and with minimal training.

Cost to Deploy Robodogs

Though Ukraine seems optimistic about the prospect, the same cannot be said about Brit Alliance, The New York Post reported. Brit Alliance does want to continue its collaboration with Ukraine but seems disinterested in shipping battle-capable dogs. The reasoning behind the hesitance is the company's principle. Kyle Thorburn, the managing director, of the company stated that robodogs were built to help on the battlefield and not to be used as weapons. Other places from which Ukraine can buy robodogs include Boston Dynamics whose pricing starts from $74,500 and is 37 times more expensive than the ones built by Brit Alliance, Popular Mechanics reported.