Forget what you know about frontline combat. The future is here, driving across Ukraine’s toughest terrain. For the past nine months, more than 100 self-driving all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) built by an American company named Forterra have been deployed in active combat zones. This is the largest known use of autonomous ground vehicles by a U.S. defense tech company in a real war.
Forterra’s Autonomous ATVs Changing the Game
These aren’t just any ATVs. Forterra’s fleet has driven over 2,500 miles on more than 1,100 missions. They’ve hauled a staggering 777,440 pounds of cargo and completed 52 life-saving casualty evacuations. That’s heavy lifting done without risking soldiers’ lives. Since arriving in Ukraine last October, these vehicles have seen real combat action.
Scott Sanders, Forterra’s chief growth officer and former U.S. Marine officer, nails it: “I believe this to be true of every defense technology that’s ever been created — until you hit the realities of combat, you’re just not going to know.” Combat tests technology in ways no lab can.
The vehicles are based on Polaris ATVs but outfitted with a custom sensor and compute stack. Ukrainian soldiers mostly teleoperate them, carefully guiding these robotic workhorses through dangerous zones. “There’s nowhere to hide,” says Sergeant Major Corey Wilkens, a U.S. Army program leader working with the tech.
Ukrainian soldiers have mixed feelings about new Western tech. But one summed it up with brutal honesty: “The bottom line is that this UGV for logistics and just maintaining our defense is the most important UGV in Ukraine.” Another added, “It’s fucking fantastic, and we are dying to get more.” This technology is not just helpful — it’s vital.
Funding and Competition Drive Innovation
Forterra’s success rides on more than just battlefield results. The company has raised over $500 million in venture funding. Big-name investors like XYZ Venture Capital and Moore Strategic Partners back this bold push into autonomous military vehicles.
But they’re not alone. Competitors like Scout AI recently raised $100 million to develop their own autonomous military platforms. The race to build smarter, tougher, more reliable robotic vehicles is accelerating fast.
Drone Warfare: Ukraine’s Invisible Edge
While Forterra’s vehicles roll across the ground, Ukraine’s skies buzz with drones. In May 2026, a Ukrainian unit launched 800 midrange drones, with 650 hitting their intended targets. These drones are equipped with Starlink satellite communications, enhancing command and control even in contested areas.
Ukraine’s K-2 brigade leads these drone strikes. Operators like senior sergeant Oleksandr Karpyuk control drones from a command post in the Kharkiv region. Karpyuk notes, “It’s gotten a little quieter now. You can tell the pressure from the enemy has eased.” Why? “Because it gives them maneuverability and speed.”
One top Ukrainian drone pilot known as Black explains the HX-2 combat drone from German manufacturer Helsing. Tested near Pokrovsk in March 2023, the HX-2 is fast and agile. It uses artificial intelligence to acquire targets independently but still requires pilot confirmation. Black says, “Normally we fly toward the target that reconnaissance drone pilots show us. However, the HX-2 system can independently identify targets. That said, it still can’t tell if a target has already been destroyed or not.”
Helsing has supplied thousands of HX-2 kits funded by the German government. The company announced delivery of an additional 6,000 HX-2 drones in early 2025. These drones give Ukraine a major advantage in the air. Black states, “For the enemy it is harder to shoot down.” But even the HX-2 drones face challenges. They remain vulnerable to electronic warfare, a constant threat on today’s battlefield.
The Battlefield of Tomorrow Is Here Today
Ukraine’s warzone is a testbed for cutting-edge autonomous technology. Ground vehicles and drones work together, changing logistics and combat tactics at every turn. Forterra’s autonomous ATVs prove that robotic systems can carry heavy loads, rescue casualties, and perform reliably in combat.
Meanwhile, drones strike deep into enemy supply lines with precision and speed. The mix of AI, satellite networks, and human control creates a potent force multiplier. Ukrainian forces are already seeing the results. The pressure from the enemy is easing, and maneuverability is rising.
This is a glimpse of future warfare. Autonomous systems aren’t science fiction anymore. They’re here, rolling and flying over Ukraine’s battlefields. The technology will only grow smarter and stronger as funding pours in and developers push the limits. The question is no longer if autonomous vehicles will change combat — but how fast and how far they will go next.
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