Ukraine has developed the Spider mobile fire support platform on a tracked chassis. The system is designed to engage armored vehicles, fortifications, enemy personnel, and low-speed aerial targets.
The ground-based robotic system was showcased at a presentation by the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries (NAUDI), which was also attended by representatives of Militarnyi.
The platform is currently undergoing certification for official operational approval. The system is remotely controlled via LTE, radio, Starlink, or fiber-optic links.
The Spider is equipped with machine guns such as the Browning M2 and PKT, as well as AGS-17 and Mk19 automatic grenade launchers. The fire control system includes hydraulic stabilization, a ballistic calculator, and a third-party target auto-tracking function. The weapon elevation angle reaches +70 degrees, allowing it to engage targets at height.
The robotic platform is based on a proprietary tracked chassis, which enables obstacle crossing and autonomous navigation to a designated position.
The current version of the system lacks combat armor, though designers have fitted the hull with standard steel. This allows the system’s weight and dimensions to be aligned with the parameters of a future armored variant.
A 360-degree camera system provides all-around visibility. The placement of smoke mortars is designed to create a smoke screen to cover friendly units and equipment, not just the platform itself. Depending on the intensity of use, the Spider’s operational autonomy is up to 72 hours.
