On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Estonian company Milrem Robotics (part of the Emirati EDGE Group) announced that, as a result of cooperation with the Ukrainian company Frontline, a new variant of the THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System) Combat unmanned ground combat vehicle was developed, equipped with the remotely controlled Buria weapon module.
Photo: Milrem Robotics
The THeMIS Combat, as a fire support vehicle, has been armed with the American 40 mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher chambered for the 40×53SR cartridge, currently produced by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS), mounted on the remotely controlled Buria weapon module (Ukrainian: Буря, meaning “Storm”). It is worth noting that grenade launchers of this type were first observed in the Ukrainian Armed Forces on December 23, 2022. However, ammunition of this caliber has been produced since 2018.
The integration was confirmed during live-fire testing in operational conditions in Ukraine, marking a significant step forward in the development of uncrewed combat support systems. Combining the Buria system with Milrem Robotics’ reliable THeMIS platform has enabled precise target engagement at distances of up to 1,100 meters while keeping operators out of harm’s way.
“This successful demonstration verifies the reliability and accuracy of the BURIА-THeMIS integration,” said Paul Clayton, Director of Industrial Partnerships at Milrem Robotics. “It highlights the expanding role of robotic platforms in improving tactical effectiveness and operator safety on the modern battlefield.”
During the live-fire tests, this THeMIS Combat configuration demonstrated excellent stability and target tracking, confirming the accuracy and effectiveness of this remotely operated fire support system. The successful firing trials further emphasize the THeMIS platform’s versatility in handling various kinetic payloads.
“This is a vivid example of Ukrainian innovation combined with European engineering,” said Yevhen Tretiak, CEO of Frontline. “At Frontline, we believe the future of modern warfare belongs to robotic systems. BURIA is part of our vision for a robotic frontline — where drones perform defensive and offensive operations while soldiers remain out of harm’s way. Together, we’re fast-tracking these technologies to the frontlines.”
In the coming weeks, further live-fire testing and tactical validation will continue to assess performance in various battlefield scenarios. The collected data will help in developing future system upgrades and potential deployment strategies.
The THeMIS was the first unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) in its class to be used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the war with Russia. It is now widely regarded as the most effective unmanned platform operating in Ukraine (two have been lost: one destroyed, the other captured by Russian forces):
- On May 20 of this year, French company CNIM Systèmes Industriels ordered six THeMIS units, which, after modification, will be configured for the ROCUS (Route Clearance Unmanned Systems) combat engineering version.
- On November 29, 2022, German company KNDS Deutschland (then KMW) ordered 14 THeMIS units in the CASEVAC (casualty evacuation) configuration for battlefield medical evacuation and combat engineering tasks.
- At the end of August 2022, Milrem Robotics delivered one THeMIS in CASEVAC configuration to a Ukrainian charity organization.
The remotely controlled Buria weapon module has been in service with Ukrainian military units since January 2025 and is now in serial production. The system is actively being integrated into combat support units as part of a pioneering training program developed specifically for frontline operations. The first unmanned platform it was integrated with was the TerMIT.
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