Unmanned Ground Robots Are Rapidly Transforming the Battlefield — Poland’s Łukasiewicz–PIAP Bets on Autonomous Transport, Evacuation, and Combat Platforms.
Unmanned ground robots (UGVs) are increasingly supporting soldiers on today’s battlefields—evacuating the wounded, transporting ammunition, and, when fitted with weapon modules, taking on combat roles. Poland is developing its own systems as well. The Łukasiewicz Research Network – PIAP is focusing on autonomous transport, evacuation, and combat platforms designed to compete with the world’s best.
“The robotization of the battlefield is accelerating. We’re seeing ever more interesting new designs. At PIAP, we’re striving to keep pace by offering what we believe are Europe’s most advanced robots at the moment,” says Adam Szepczyński, Marketing Director at the Łukasiewicz – Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements (PIAP), in an interview with Newseria.
Modern armies have long used robots for EOD (explosive ordnance disposal), reconnaissance, and logistics. The U.S. PackBot and TALON platforms, for example, took on dangerous IED removal missions during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. A current example is Estonia’s Milrem Robotics THeMIS, used in Ukraine for transport and casualty evacuation and now configured for fire support via a Ukrainian-made remote weapon station.
UGVs are thus moving beyond support roles and becoming integral to combat operations. The Polish research institute has been developing its own designs for years.
“We have robots specifically for EOD technicians and tactical units—engineer corps bomb squads and mine-clearance teams—as well as tactical robots for special forces,” Szepczyński explains. “For the past three to four years, we’ve also been developing large combat robots, systems to support light infantry, evacuation robots, and weaponized platforms.”
The newest PIAP-designed and -built system is the PIAP HUNTeR combat robot: a remotely operated UGV for border, military area, and urban patrol and surveillance; fire support; and protection of mechanized columns or light infantry during defensive operations. PIAP HUNTeR is the largest remotely controlled European combat robot. Weighing 4 tonnes and measuring 470 × 220 cm, it is powered by two electric motors and can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h. With eight HD cameras and LIDAR, it offers full situational awareness and precise terrain mapping. At this year’s MSPO defense expo in Kielce, PIAP showcased HUNTeR with a remote turret mounting the WLKM 12.7 mm multi-barrel machine gun developed by Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów (PGZ Group). The vehicle also integrates an electro-optical head and radar, enabling automatic tracking and engagement of aerial and ground targets. Its modular architecture allows easy integration with other defense systems, significantly strengthening protection of strategic sites and battlefield security.
“It’s a very compelling integration—Tarnów’s kinetic counter-UAV system based on a multi-barrel machine gun combined with PCO’s electro-optics—offering a new way to use ground robots to defeat aerial drones,” Szepczyński notes.
Another PIAP platform, IBIS, is designed for EOD and reconnaissance missions. With additional accessories, it can neutralize hazardous devices, conduct chemical reconnaissance, and support rescue operations in dangerous environments.
Both robots were recently tested in Italy during HEDI OPEX 2025, an experimental campaign organized by the European Defence Agency (EDA).
“There’s a strong chance we’ll be invited by EDA to the next OPEX phase, where we can finally present the results of our work on a fully weaponized combat robot,” says Szepczyński. “So far, we’ve integrated systems from WB Group and AREX on HUNTeR and successfully tested a 12.7 mm remote weapon station on the range—with first-rate results. We’re now opening up cooperation with the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ).”
At MSPO 2025, the Łukasiewicz Research Network and PGZ signed a strategic partnership to intensify R&D collaboration and transfer advanced technologies to Poland’s defense industry, including the development of autonomous land, sea, and air platforms.
“PIAP is ready to help create Polish solutions. We’re watching competing and friendly designs—from WB Group to military institutes—and we hope to co-create systems that best match the real needs of new unmanned force structures,” Szepczyński adds.
Łukasiewicz’s study, “Autonomy of Battlefield Robots and Special-Purpose Robots,” argues that autonomous systems will increasingly dominate the battlespace, with a clear trend toward substituting soldiers with machines. The war in Ukraine shows equipment losses are so high that reliance on imports is insufficient—countries must produce locally, cheaply, and at scale. Indigenous research is also essential to understand how these machines work—and how to defend against them. According to Łukasiewicz experts, Poland’s research base is sufficient to develop prototypes, and, crucially, the country has strong manufacturing capacity.
Łukasiewicz – PIAP exports its robots to 28 foreign markets, including South Korea, Indonesia, France, and Romania.
“Interest in robotics is enormous. We’ll certainly be at international trade shows this year—possibly Milipol Paris. We’re counting on the EDA collaboration to boost visibility at exercises like OPEX, where Polish robotics drew real attention in the sector. Hopefully, that will translate into orders,” Szepczyński concludes.
