Forterra: 100+ Lancer UGVs deployed in Ukraine combat

Forterra revealed that more than 100 of its self-driving Lancer ATVs have been operating in conflict zones in Ukraine for the past nine months. Since arriving in Ukraine last October, the vehicles have driven more than 2,500 miles across more than 1,100 missions, carried 777,440 pounds of cargo and completed 52 casualty evacuations.

What did Forterra deploy and where?

More than 100 of Forterra's Lancer autonomous all-terrain vehicles are in Ukraine, operating in combat zones for the past nine months and managed under US defense funding. The Lancers are built on Polaris ATVs fitted with a custom sensor and compute stack, are gas-powered and can carry 750 kilograms of cargo. Forterra added a Starlink satellite internet antenna to adapt the vehicles for Ukrainian operational needs.

How are the Lancers being used and what have they achieved?

The Lancers have been used primarily for logistics and casualty evacuation, completing more than 1,100 missions, moving 777,440 pounds and performing 52 casualty evacuations while logging over 2,500 miles. Ukrainian soldiers have mainly teleoperated the vehicles in combat zones because the platforms are too valuable to risk and current autonomy cannot reliably respond to unexpected enemy forces. Forterra has faced losses in combat, especially when vehicles become stuck in deep mud or terrain that leaves them exposed to Russian attack.

Forterra has learned operational lessons about electronic warfare, remote software updates, and vehicle maintenance. Company executives said those field experiences revealed where manual steps remain and where tooling can reduce load on soldiers. Scott Sanders, Forterra's chief growth officer, said, "I believe this to be true of every defense technology that’s ever been created—until you hit the realities of combat, you’re just not going to know."

How do Lancers compare to other UGVs and the constraints they face?

Forterra's Lancers are larger and carry more than many Ukrainian-built UGVs, which are typically battery-powered and can carry up to 250 kilograms, according to a Ukrainian soldier who has worked with those systems. The Lancers' 750 kilogram payload and gas power make them more versatile for logistics, but their cost and value make commanders treat them conservatively compared with expendable aerial drones. Ukrainians asked Forterra to make them cheaper, noting that attrition is a fact of the battlefield and replacements are needed.

Competitors are pursuing similar work. Scout AI raised $100 million earlier this year to train foundation models and develop autonomous platforms for the military, and startups such as Field AI and Overland AI are trialing UGVs with the US military. Forterra, which began working on autonomy two decades ago, has raised more than $500 million in venture funding from investors that include XYZ Venture Cpaital and Moore Strategic Partners.

Why it matters

Ground autonomy is now operating in combat at scale for an American builder, and the field experience is exposing the gap between navigation and tactical autonomy. The numbers show logistics value: more than 1,100 missions and 777,440 pounds moved are concrete evidence that UGVs can sustain supply lines under threat. At the same time, teleoperation and battlefield losses underscore that full, independent autonomy remains unfinished for contested environments.

What to watch

Watch whether Forterra converts field lessons into cheaper, more attritable units and whether it wins national security contracts now that it has combat deployments to cite. Also track progress on autonomy that can identify and react to enemy threats in real time, and whether that capability moves Lancers from primarily teleoperated logistics platforms toward truly autonomous combat support.