Dutch Assembly Line Kicks Off Serial THeMIS UGV Production for Ukraine
Milrem Robotics, the Estonian developer of the THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), has opened a dedicated assembly line in Born, the Netherlands, in partnership with VDL Defentec. The first Dutch-built THeMIS units have already been handed over to the Dutch government as part of a pledge to deliver more than 100 of the tracked robots to Ukraine.
The move marks a significant step in scaling up European production capacity for ground robotics — a domain that has gone from experimental to operationally essential over the course of the war in Ukraine.
A Tracked Workhorse with Modular DNA
The THeMIS is a tracked, multirole UGV weighing in at 1,630 kg, with a rated payload of 750 kg and a maximum payload of 1,200 kg. Its hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system gives it up to 15 hours of endurance in hybrid mode and 1.5 hours running silently on batteries alone. Top speed is 20 km/h, but the platform can be towed at up to 80 km/h for rapid tactical repositioning.
What sets THeMIS apart is its modular open architecture. The same base platform can be configured for:
- Combat — mounting machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, or anti-tank guided missiles
- Logistics — resupplying forward positions with ammunition, water, and rations
- ISR — carrying sensor packages for reconnaissance and surveillance
- CASEVAC — extracting wounded personnel from the battlefield
- EOD — ordnance disposal and route clearance
This flexibility is central to the platform's appeal. A single vehicle type can switch between transport, strike, and medevac roles depending on mission requirements — reducing the logistical burden of supporting multiple specialized platforms.
From Prototype to Production Line
The Born facility, operated jointly with VDL Defentec, is designed as a flexible final assembly line. VDL Defentec brings experience from armored vehicle assembly and electric propulsion integration, giving the partnership a solid industrial base for scaling up.
"This cooperation with VDL is a great fit because of their solid industrial scaling capabilities to serve the European market with Milrem products," said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics, at the opening ceremony on June 4.
Willem van der Leegte, CEO of VDL Groep, added that the handover "demonstrates that European companies can jointly establish new manufacturing capabilities at speed and support international security efforts."
Combat-Proven Since 2022
THeMIS has been in active service with Ukrainian forces since 2022, accumulating real-world combat experience across multiple mission types. The platform has been reported as reliable under harsh frontline conditions, from extreme heat to mud season operations.
The Dutch delivery is part of a much larger picture. Ukraine has publicly stated a goal of fielding 25,000 ground robots across its frontline, with more than 9,000 UGV missions recorded in March 2026 alone — triple the count from the previous November. The Netherlands' contribution of over 100 THeMIS units adds a proven, NATO-interoperable platform to that rapidly growing fleet.
THeMIS is already in use or under evaluation by 20 countries, including eight NATO members such as the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Norway. The new Dutch production line adds a geographically distributed manufacturing node that could serve both European and export customers.
What This Means for Heavy Industry
For readers of Heavy-Shift, the THeMIS story sits squarely at the intersection this publication covers: heavy machinery, defense technology, and industrial automation. The platform shares engineering DNA with civilian tracked vehicles and construction equipment — hybrid drivetrains, modular attachments, remote operation, and autonomous navigation capabilities that are increasingly making their way into the earthmoving and mining sectors.
As the line between civilian construction equipment and military ground robotics continues to blur, the production techniques and automation solutions developed at facilities like the one in Born may well find their way back into the civilian heavy equipment industry.
Sources: Defense News (June 4, 2026), Milrem Robotics, Defence Turkey, VDL Defentec
