Ukraine Masters Manufacturing of Rubber Tracks for UGVs

Ukraine has begun manufacturing domestic rubber tracks for UGVs. Previously, only imported tracks were used.

Taras Ostapchuk, CEO of Ratel Robotics, shared this with Militarnyi.

Previously, Ratel Robotics purchased tracks from China.

Subsequently, a Ukrainian contractor mastered the production of lightweight rubber tracks.

“The contractor has created quite high-quality tracks. They have already been adapted for three tracked vehicles,” Taras Ostapchuk said.

Ratel Robotics has developed the Nurse TB ground drone, which uses a tracked chassis. It is on this vehicle that they plan to install the Ukrainian tracks.

It is designed to perform logistical tasks and can carry a payload of up to 150 kg. Rubber tracks consist of a series of segments made of a durable vulcanized rubber compound reinforced with parallel steel threads and polyamide fabric.

They form the basis of an all-wheel-drive chassis, in which a contoured belt adjacent to the support rollers replaces wheels.

Local production of rubber tracks ensures independence from imports, speeds up delivery, and allows them to be adapted to the real combat conditions of ground drone operations.

This also allows for rapid repair and scaling of equipment without logistical bottlenecks.

In 2025, the Ukrainian defense technology market was valued at $6.8 billion, with UGV production increasing by 488%.