Ukraine’s defence sector is enlarging the role of uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) in logistics, demining and engineering tasks. A recent entrant, the Bufalo, is a 4-tonne diesel platform developed by a Ukrainian company that has withheld its name for security reasons. The system has been engineered around range, survivability and modularity, with field trials under way ahead of a formal unveiling and codification.

The platform’s core roles are logistics and humanitarian demining, though the chassis is intended to be multi-role. Unlike smaller electric UGVs, Bufalo uses a diesel engine and can be fitted with as many fuel tanks as required, giving a stated operating range of 100–200km, which is intended to reduce downtime from battery swaps on extended routes to the forward line. Developers say the longer front and resupply distances favour diesel for sustained tasks.

Protection is a prominent feature. The hull is clad in European armoured steel and is stated to withstand direct small-arms fire and indirect 152mm artillery bursts at 100 metres. The wheels are designed to preserve mobility after damage. With a low profile, mass around 4 tonnes and a top speed up to 20km/h, the vehicle is intended to stay harder to spot while hauling cargo or recovering stuck vehicles.

Communications are built with redundancy. Bufalo can be controlled over Starlink with GPS navigation and a CRPA (Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna) for anti-jam resilience, alongside a radio link with a reserve channel. If satellite service is disrupted, the team says an airborne relay can be deployed to maintain control at range. For context, CRPA arrays are designed to suppress interference by steering antenna nulls toward jammers.

Autonomy is local and supervised. On-board AI processes camera feeds, detects obstacles out to 15 metres, proposes routes, and halts when hazards are identified. Target tracking is supported, but engagement decisions are kept with a human operator; the developers state the system will not make lethal decisions.

The concept emerged after a previous commercial UGV reportedly failed an off-road demonstration, prompting a fresh design focused on robustness. The team sought requirements from Ukraine’s General Staff and canvassed frontline units. Requests included smoke canisters for concealment, Starlink integration, armoured wheels, and an armoured belly plate to mitigate mine risk. Work on a demining configuration ran March–August 2025, bundling the base vehicle with a hydraulic system, a mulcher, a control console and a trailer. The company says content is about 70% Ukrainian, with the balance from EU suppliers; pricing has not been disclosed.

Planned enhancements aim to broaden roles. A remote weapon station is under consideration subject to military consultation. As an engineering asset, the hydraulic system can host tools such as a bucket for remote trenching. The team has also tested compatibility with an 11-channel radio-suppression system for electronic-warfare resilience and is designing control interfaces so subsystems can be swapped via standard connectors for field maintenance and upgrades.

Bufalo follows earlier Ukrainian heavy UGV efforts such as PROTECTOR by Ukrainian Armor, which has been approved and introduced to service as a logistical and multi-role platform. Production of PROTECTOR has been reported and demonstrated in open sources, underlining the maturing UGV segment in Ukraine.

According to the developers, Bufalo is moving toward an official presentation and codification. Initial production is planned at 10 units per month, with expansion envisaged through collaboration once trials conclude. In a theatre where distance, exposure and contamination impose persistent risks, the platform is positioned for resupply, route clearance and remote engineering, with supervised autonomy aimed at reducing operator exposure while keeping humans in control.