Ukraine unveils tiny robot firing drone-catching nets as battlefield engineers chase cheaper answers against relentless FPV attacks

Ukraine develops ground robot firing nets against incoming FPV drone attacks
VORON combines drone interception with logistics and battlefield evacuation capabilities effectively
Net launchers attempt physical drone captures instead of explosive aerial interceptions

Ukrainian firm SMART BIRDS has introduced an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) called VORON, built specifically to intercept first-person view drones from multiple directions simultaneously.

The system relies on Pavuk net launchers, a defensive mechanism designed to trap incoming drones before they reach their intended target.

The system was unveiled during a closed demonstration organized by the Technological Forces of Ukraine.

Net-launching system functions for drone capture

Each VORON platform can carry up to eight net launcher modules, allowing coverage against threats approaching from any angle around the vehicle.

The system engages targets at distances reaching 45 meters, with nets fully deploying after traveling 5 meters and forming a defensive radius of 5 meters.

Every two-barrel module weighs 4 kg, and operators can reload and fire the launchers repeatedly during a single engagement.

A human operator triggers the system manually through a control panel, using an onboard camera to visually confirm each threat before firing.

“The UGV operator, having seen a threat through the camera, can fire a shot from the control panel,” a company representative said.

“The equipped net gun has two nets for shooting, installed at different angles relative to the horizon, which allows you to neutralize both the “waiting drone” and the drone on the approach. If necessary, the net gun can be recharged and fired repeatedly.”

This dual-angle configuration suggests engineers anticipated drones adopting either stationary or approach-based attack patterns.

Additional roles beyond drone interception

According to SMART BIRDS, the VORON platform serves purposes extending well beyond countering aerial threats.

This system also serves for logistics support, casualty evacuation, reconnaissance, and minelaying operations.

The unmanned vehicle weighs 120 kg yet can transport payloads of up to 250 kg under standard conditions.

Figures released by the company claim that the carrying capacity can increase to as much as 400 kg over shorter distances.

“We expected that sometimes the UGV would also have to evacuate personnel, so we built in increased lifting capacity,” says a company representative.

The UGV’s top speed reaches 15 kilometers per hour, while the platform’s operational range extends to 30 kilometers on a single battery charge.

These specifications place VORON within a category of lightweight ground robots meant for frontline support rather than heavy transport duties.

The vehicle remains in the codification process required for formal military adoption, and the company has indicated plans to integrate further mission-specific modules later.

As of the time of writing, all figures on the interception range and reliability of this device rest solely on manufacturer statements.

Without independent verification from military testing bodies or combat deployment records, these figures remain uncertain.

Net-based counter-drone systems face inherent limitations, particularly against fast-moving or evasive drone maneuvers that could avoid capture entirely.

Whether VORON performs consistently across varied battlefield conditions — weather, terrain, electronic interference — remains an open question until broader field data emerges from actual deployment.