Ukraine's Ark Robotics UGV used in NATO's Crystal Arrow exercise
Ark Robotics' Ark-1 UGV with ground control seen during NATO's Crystal Arrow exercise in Latvia on 11 March, 2026. (Janes/Tamara Rozouvan)
Latvia's 2nd Mechanised Infantry Battalion used Ukraine's Ark Robotics' unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) Ark-1 in a combat role in an exercise for the first time, Lieutenant Colonel Andris Bruveris, 2nd Mechanised Infantry Brigade Commander, told Janes on 11 May 2026.
The UGV was tested as part of NATO's Exercise ‘Crystal Arrow' 2026 at the Sēlija Military Training Area in Latvia. A team of Ukrainian former and current military personnel affiliated with the company were on-hand to advise with the Ark-1 UGV. “They [the Ukrainians] are showing that it [the Ark-1] is a valuable thing. And with the UGVs we are a little bit behind because we've been using only the air drones,” Lt Col Bruveris said, adding that he sees the benefit of UGV integration into land forces.
Combat UGVs
The Battalion did not rule out using the UGV paired with a first person view (FPV) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to extend communication as part of a last tactical mile mission, said Lt Col Bruveris. During exercise Crystal Arrow, which is led by Latvia's Land Forces Mechanised Infantry Brigade, a total of seven UGVs from four different manufacturers were used by the 2nd
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