Forterra, a builder of autonomous vehicles based in the US, announced today that over 100 of its self-driving ATVs have been operational in conflict zones in Ukraine for the last nine months, which the company claims is the most significant deployment of autonomous ground vehicles in combat by any US defense technology firm.

“I think this holds true for all defense technologies ever developed—until you actually face the realities of combat, you won’t really know,” Scott Sanders, Forterra’s chief growth officer and a former US Marine officer, shared with TechCrunch.

Backed by US defense funding, this initiative forms part of a larger movement to enhance the US military’s capabilities by supporting Ukrainian resistance against Russian invaders. While aerial drones have received significant focus during the conflict, the complexities they’ve introduced—widespread no-go areas where surveillance can result in lethal attacks—have prompted Ukrainian strategists to pursue autonomy in ground operations as well.

“There are no hiding spots,” explained Sergeant Major Corey Wilkens, who oversees a program that develops autonomous vehicles and strategies for the US Army. “You become exceedingly vulnerable to attacks from [first-person view drones], various drones releasing munitions, artillery, mortars, and a comprehensive range of armaments.”

Ukraine is actively creating its own uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) to assist in transporting supplies and munitions, as well as evacuating injured soldiers, but these vehicles are generally battery-operated and have a capacity of only 250 kilograms, according to a soldier in the Ukrainian army who has experience with the vehicles and whom TechCrunch will not name for security concerns.

Forterra’s Lancer vehicles, which are based on Polaris ATVs and come equipped with a custom sensor and compute stack, are powered by gas and can transport 750 kilograms of load, making them notably more adaptable and effective. “The key point is that this UGV for logistics and maintaining our defense is the most vital UGV in Ukraine,” the soldier remarked. “It’s absolutely incredible, and we are eager to get more.”

Initially, there were reservations. The Ukrainian Armed Forces had mixed results with Western contractors introducing new technology to the battlefield, and early impressions of Forterra’s products seemed overly tailored for the high-end needs of the US Army. Adjusting the vehicle for local conditions—especially by integrating a Starlink satellite internet antenna—proved to be extremely beneficial.

Since their arrival in Ukraine last October, the vehicles have covered over 2,500 miles throughout more than 1,100 missions, transporting 777,440 pounds in total and accomplishing 52 casualty evacuations. Some have been lost in battle, particularly when they get stuck in deep mud or other challenging terrains where Russian forces can target them at their convenience.

Forterra has garnered valuable insights regarding electronic warfare, remote software updates, navigating difficult conditions, and ensuring vehicle reliability. The firm, which has secured over $500 million in venture funding from groups such as XYZ Venture Capital and Moore Strategic Partners, is now in a stronger position to pursue profitable national security contracts.

They’ve also recognized the constraints of autonomy: Currently, Ukrainian soldiers have predominantly been remotely operating the vehicles in combat zones, partly due to their high value and also because autonomous vehicles are not yet equipped to handle the complexities of warfare.

Even though the vehicles can autonomously navigate various terrains, they are not yet capable of recognizing unexpected enemy forces and reacting suitably. “We need to be able to respond to enemy threats in real-time, whilst they are in the presence of the enemy, which is something the autonomy does not yet comprehend,” the Ukrainian soldier clarified.

Forterra, which began its journey in developing autonomous vehicles two decades ago, is exploring how to integrate algorithms that were used for self-driving vehicles with cutting-edge generative AI software that enables machines to adapt to their environment in a generalized manner. As is the case with other autonomous systems, a significant challenge lies in data acquisition.

“There are numerous tasks that are not available in an open-source framework since they are not actions that humans typically perform, whether it involves figuring out minefield navigation or [operating] weapon systems,” Sanders told TechCrunch. “You need to adjust particular aspects using a classical robotics approach, while also leveraging AI where appropriate.”

Rivals in this sector are tackling comparable challenges, including Scout AI, which secured $100 million earlier this year to train foundational models and develop a range of military autonomous platforms, including UGVs. Other startups like Field AI and Overland AI are testing UGVs with the US military.

Despite the constraints associated with UGVs, American military experts are convinced that it’s the right time to invest in these assets. “Ground autonomy is now attainable and we have witnessed it,” Wilkens stated.

Scott Philips, the chief innovation officer at Forterra, visited a Ukrainian unit’s operations center to observe the vehicles in action firsthand, gaining admiration from the unit for visiting an area under threat from Russian strikes.

“What impacted me the most was pinpointing where the inefficiencies lie: which processes remain manual, where data needs to be re-entered or re-validated by hand, and where the team has already identified opportunities to automate or expedite tasks,” Philips told TechCrunch. “That’s the kind of ground truth you simply can’t obtain from a presentation because it illustrates exactly where improved tools could alleviate pressure from the personnel doing this work in real-time.”

One request made by the Ukrainians: Reduce costs. Forterra’s Lancers are not prohibitively expensive for their category, thanks to leveraging Polaris’ commercial supply chain for the vehicles, but they still carry a value that restricts their deployment compared to UAVs.

“Attrition is simply a reality on this battlefield, and we have indeed lost a few at this stage, which is painful, and we require additional units, thus we need them at a lower cost,” conveyed the Ukrainian soldier to TechCrunch.