France sends robotic demining systems to Ukraine
French-financed unmanned ground systems developed by Estonia’s Milrem Robotics and France’s CNIM Systèmes Industriels will soon be delivered to Ukraine to support explosive ordnance clearance in conflict-affected regions.
According to Milrem Robotics, six THeMIS-based Route Clearance Unmanned Systems (ROCUS) will be supplied by CNIM Systèmes Industriels to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SESU) as part of an initiative funded by the French government. The ROCUS vehicles are designed to identify and neutralize explosive threats while keeping operators at a safe distance.
In a statement, Milrem Robotics CEO Kuldar Väärsi said, “We are proud to continue to support Ukraine through the contract with CNIM Systèmes Industriels. THeMIS UGVs have already proven their versatility and reliability in various operational scenarios in Ukraine and elsewhere.”
The ROCUS systems integrate CNIM’s route clearance payload onto the THeMIS unmanned platform, a tracked ground vehicle designed for use in dangerous terrain and combat support roles. Company representatives say the system allows demining personnel to inspect, verify, and remotely clear explosive hazards without direct exposure, improving safety and efficiency in high-risk environments.
The six new vehicles will expand Ukraine’s existing fleet of THeMIS-based demining systems. As noted by Milrem Robotics, 15 of its unmanned platforms have now been deployed to Ukraine, including the initial batch of seven ROCUS systems delivered in 2022.
The company states that the delivery aims to assist Ukrainian authorities in securing roads, restoring access to agricultural areas, and enabling the reconstruction of war-damaged communities. SESU will be the primary operator of the systems, which are expected to support humanitarian and reconstruction missions in areas affected by mines and unexploded ordnance.
THeMIS is currently in service or development in 19 countries, according to Milrem Robotics, and is considered the most widely adopted unmanned ground vehicle in its weight class. The system has been used for logistics, surveillance, and route clearance operations in multiple operational theaters.
In his remarks, Väärsi emphasized the collaborative nature of the effort: “Our continuous partnership with CNIM Systèmes Industriels to provide the ROCUS system demonstrates the strength of European defence cooperation and the commitment to supplying meaningful capabilities to Ukraine.”
