Fedorov: Military robot prototype due in month, price must fall for mass use
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A robot now costs $40,000–$70,000. (Photo: Video screenshot via FEDOROV /Telegram)
The first prototype of a humanoid-like robot for military
use is expected within a month, with its current $40,000–$70,000 cost needing
to fall to $10,000–$20,000 for large-scale deployment, former Ukrainian Defense
Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told Forbes
Ukraine on Sept. 30.
He said the cost would depend on the task the robot is
designed to perform.
Fedorov also said the goal of creating a humanoid robot
should be viewed as a step-by-step process, moving from a simple solution to a
more complex system.
He stressed that it would be more accurate to describe the
machine as humanoid-like rather than a conventional humanoid. It could perform
specific tasks normally carried out by an infantryman or assault soldier, such
as reloading a machine gun, replacing batteries in sensors and launching
drones.
Another task, Fedorov said, is choosing the robot’s hardware
and software architecture and integrating the two.
“We are moving away from the types of humanoids we see in
the United States toward simple models that can be scaled,” Fedorov said.
He said a clear understanding of component-related problems
would emerge after the first prototype is built, which is expected in about a
month. The team is already analyzing available components.
Demand for such robots could reach tens of thousands of
units, Fedorov said. His team is already looking at a company that has a robot
“minimum viable product” and that he believes could potentially scale
production.
On Sept. 26, Fedorov announced the launch of the Army of
Robots project, aimed at expanding the use of robotic systems on the
battlefield and reducing risks to service members.
Fedorov said that after the launch of the Army of Drones in
2022, the next technological breakthrough should be the robotization of
warfare.
Army of Robots — key details
In November 2023, Fedorov, who was digital transformation
minister at the time, announced plans to create an Army of Robots and an Army
of Electronic Warfare.
In March 2024, Fedorov said Ukraine was beginning mass
production of robotic ground platforms that destroy Russian positions and
equipment, lay and clear mines, evacuate wounded troops and deliver ammunition
to positions.
In April 2025, The Telegraph reported that the “robot war”
was still in its early stages but had already begun, and that a fully robotic assault
had already taken place.
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