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Newly developed “ShaBlya” remote weapon stations have been authorised for use on Ukraine’s frontlines after being given the green light by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
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Three of the armed and thermal/video image-equipped RWS, built by Lviv robotics manufacturer Roboneers, have been approved for use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to a Ministry of Defence (MOD) statement published late last year.
The station can be equipped with light machine gun weaponry and mounted on vehicles or unmanned ground vehicles. However, it has also reportedly shown considerable promise as an infantry transportable gun emplacement operated via video link and remote control from within protected trenches.
“We are pleased that the Ukrainian ShaBlya remote weapon station is highly appreciated not only by our soldiers and the Ministry of Defence, but also by such great friends of Ukraine as former British prime minister Boris Johnson (who saw the system in September last year),” said a development team leader, according to the MOD statement.
The Ukrainian MOD has approved the ShaBlya remote weapon station for use in conducting reconnaissance, identifying targets on the battlefield, for checkpoint and border defence as well as offensively engaging infantry, lightly armoured combat vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and suppressing opposing firing positions.
The rotating tripod turret system can reportedly be armed with a 7.62mm, M240 or M2 machine gun, automatic grenade launcher and other weapons to engage targets up to 1,200 metres away. It has also previously been shown using a Steamdeck console as its controller and aiming maintained on a video monitor from a distance of 100 metres via direct cable.
The Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, said the bulletproof automated machine gun system helps soldiers destroy the enemy remotely.
“Thanks to remote operation, the turret saves the life and health of machine gunners. The development has moved from a start-up to a permanent project contracted by the state,” he said on 10 January.
“Our task is to help create innovations so that they reach the battlefield faster, are applied faster, we receive feedback and these innovations increase.
“We must seed start-ups and empower young entrepreneurs to create projects that make a difference on the battlefield. Technology helps keep our soldiers alive and effective.”
The RWS is part of the state-led Ukrainian Defense Innovations platform, Brave1, which encourages applications for defence designs to be submitted for government contracts and grants, in promotion of the defence of Ukraine.
