The plan to deliver over 150 TheMIS systems to Ukraine remains unchanged
Estonian company Milrem Robotics continues to fulfill its obligations to Ukraine regarding the delivery of more than 150 TheMIS unmanned ground vehicles by the end of 2026. Despite an arson attack on its Tallinn production site orchestrated by Russian intelligence services, the manufacturer has confirmed there are no delays in the schedule. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Лев Шевченко), according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Milrem Robotics Capacity Development Director Raul Rikk confirmed that the company is working with Estonian authorities as an injured party, but declined to comment on the details of the investigation. He noted that the apprehension of the sabotage organizers in Latvia is a result of the work of intelligence services, to which the enterprise has nothing further to add.
Security measures of the defense enterprise
Against the backdrop of increased risks in Europe, the company is reviewing its asset protection protocols in accordance with current recommendations from the Estonian Internal Security Service. Although specific steps are not being disclosed, Raul Rikk emphasized that defense manufacturers are now forced to operate under constant external pressure, which is becoming a systemic pattern in the European defense sector.
Difference in approaches to weaponry
Comparing the experience of working with the Ukrainian and other foreign markets, the Milrem Robotics representative highlighted a fundamental difference in the logic of equipment operation. While UGV units in Ukraine are treated as consumables, often destroyed within days or weeks due to intense combat operations, European customers expect to operate the systems for decades.
Lessons from combat application
The Ukrainian defense industry demonstrates an extraordinary speed of reaction to changes in requirements directly from the battlefield, which demands constant improvement of electronic warfare systems and ballistic protection for robots. However, implementing such experience in Europe requires a transformation of procurement systems, which currently take too long and do not account for the need for rapid replenishment of stock reserves.
Localization of production
Responding to questions about the prospects for production in Ukraine, Raul Rikk pointed to the dependence on the terms of specific contracts. For example, the production cycle has already been scaled up in the Netherlands following a request from that country’s government for the subsequent transfer of equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is standard practice for the defense industry.
Photo: Milrem Robotics
