Milrem Robotics will deliver more than 150 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to Ukraine under a large-scale donation funded and coordinated by the Netherlands.
The agreement, formally announced on October 6, 2025, will see a substantial portion of the vehicles assembled in partnership with Dutch defense company VDL Defentec.
The announcement came during a signing ceremony attended by Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans, Milrem executives, and VDL representatives at VDL’s facility in Born.
The deliveries will be carried out by Milrem Robotics Netherlands in close cooperation with VDL, which is setting up a dedicated final assembly line in Born to support the effort. The facility is designed for scalability, enabling additional production and deliveries should Ukraine or other partners require more vehicles in the future.
Milrem will also provide comprehensive training to Ukrainian operators and maintenance personnel to ensure that the systems can be quickly deployed and effectively sustained in combat environments.
“We are honoured to lead this project in partnership with the Netherlands and VDL,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. “The THeMIS platform has already demonstrated its value under combat conditions, and we believe this contribution will materially strengthen Ukraine’s defence capability.”
The cooperation is being presented as both a strategic defense contribution and a model of how European defense industries can work together to meet urgent battlefield needs.
“This initiative highlights the strength of cooperation between partners in Europe’s defence industry and their ability to scale up and contribute directly to international security,” said Willem van der Leegte, CEO of VDL Groep. “Establishing the assembly line in Born supports this donation and creates a foundation for future production and innovation between Milrem Robotics and VDL in the Netherlands.”
The upcoming delivery will greatly expand the fleet of THeMIS vehicles available to Ukrainian forces, adding to the 15 already in use since 2022. The platform has been deployed for logistics support, casualty evacuation, reconnaissance, and combat assistance roles on the battlefield, where it has proven particularly useful in high-risk zones and contested environments.
The THeMIS — short for Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System — is a modular, multi-role unmanned ground vehicle designed to support dismounted infantry and mechanized units. It can be configured for a variety of missions, including transporting supplies, carrying heavy weapons, conducting surveillance, or functioning as a remote weapons platform. The vehicle is designed to reduce risks to personnel by performing dangerous tasks remotely while enhancing the mobility and operational reach of ground forces.
Currently part of robotics programs or operational fleets in 19 countries, the THeMIS is the most widely fielded unmanned ground vehicle of its class globally. Its presence on the Ukrainian battlefield has already demonstrated how robotic platforms can augment conventional capabilities and help offset manpower shortages by performing critical support functions autonomously.