PAWELL Battery Packs for UGVs and Ground Drones
- PAWELL Team
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) have changed the rules of the game on the modern battlefield. From demining and logistics to casualty evacuation and strike missions — these machines perform the most dangerous work instead of humans. But no matter how successful the chassis or combat module is, the effectiveness of any UGV depends directly on its "heart" — the battery pack.
A UGV battery is not a consumer battery, but a distinct engineered product that must withstand dirt, moisture, freezing temperatures, vibration, and the harshest field conditions, all while delivering full current at the operator's command. In this article, we will break down which ground drones operate on the Ukrainian frontline today, the power supply requirements set by the state, and how PAWELL manufactures UGV battery packs to meet any manufacturer's technical specifications.
What is a UGV and Why Does It Need a High-Quality Battery?
An Unmanned Ground Vehicle is a remotely controlled or semi-autonomous platform that executes tasks instead of humans in areas where the cost of a mistake is life. In recent years, UGVs have evolved from experimental prototypes into a permanent element of combat formations: they transport ammunition and water to positions, evacuate the wounded and damaged equipment from the "gray zone," clear paths through minefields, conduct surveillance, and even perform strike functions.
UGV Application Categories by Task Type
Regardless of the manufacturer, all unmanned ground vehicles are generally divided into several functional groups — and each imposes its own requirements on the battery pack.
Strike / Fire Support: Platforms equipped with a remotely controlled combat module (machine gun, grenade launcher, turret). The battery operates under the most severe conditions here: simultaneously powering the drivetrain, platform stabilization, and targeting electronics. The main requirement is high peak discharge rate without voltage drops during firing or sharp maneuvers.
Single-Use Assault (Kamikaze): A specific subcategory designed to destroy fortifications or armored vehicles by detonation. The battery is used for only one short cycle at maximum power, so the priority shifts from cycle life to maximum specific energy at minimal weight.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance: Compact, low-profile platforms for reconnaissance, spotting, and communication relay. They can remain in standby mode at a position for hours, so the key battery characteristic is large capacity in a compact form factor and low self-discharge in standby mode.
Logistics and Evacuation: Transporting ammunition, water, medical supplies, as well as evacuating the wounded or damaged equipment from the strike zone. Here, the UGV battery must sustain a stable voltage under continuous mechanical load for extended periods — off-road, during ascents, and with a full payload on board.
Engineering and Demining: Mine clearance, installing or removing obstacles, laying cable lines, and other technical tasks in field conditions. Battery endurance is critical for such systems: it must complete a full mission cycle without recharging, withstanding vibrations, impacts, and hours of continuous operation far from the base.
In practice, the boundaries between UGV categories are blurred — the same chassis is often adapted for multiple roles simultaneously. Therefore, manufacturers increasingly order custom-engineered battery packs tailored to a specific application profile rather than off-the-shelf products. Understanding this market dynamic, PAWELL offers the development of custom power solutions for any UGV — from light reconnaissance bots to heavy logistics platforms.
The main reason for the rapid growth in UGV popularity is a simple equation: a robot can be replaced, a human cannot. Where kamikaze drones and artillery make infantry movement across open terrain mortally dangerous, a ground robot takes on the routine and highest-risk runs. And in each of these scenarios, it is the battery that determines whether the robot delivers the payload, extracts the wounded, manages to return — or simply stops halfway due to a depleted battery.
The Most Popular UGVs on the Frontline: Model Overview
Over the past few years, a whole class of domestic ground robots has emerged in Ukraine, each solving its specific narrow task.
TerMIT — A tracked system that has become one of the symbols of Ukrainian demining. Thanks to its squat silhouette and low center of gravity, it navigates off-road terrain, steep slopes, and trenches. In an enemy minefield, it can clear a path up to 50 meters long and 6 meters wide. The latest iteration of the platform carries up to 300 kg of payload, and the battery charge lasts for several hours of continuous operation.
TarGun — A compact wheeled UGV that can be transported in a minibus or on a car trailer, while the robot itself can carry up to 200 kg of cargo — ammunition, food, and gear. The platform proved so versatile that it serves as the base for evacuation modifications (extracting the wounded and damaged drones from the "gray zone") as well as combat variants equipped with the "Shablya" remote-controlled module for enemy fire suppression.
Ratel X — One of the first Ukrainian kamikaze UGVs: a platform with an enhanced explosive charge used to destroy enemy armor and demolish fortifications where other means were ineffective. The Ratel's experience demonstrated a principle that now defines the development of this entire equipment class: every UGV model is engineered for a specific combat task, and the battery requirements depend directly on that task.
The list is actively expanding: "Gulliver," "Gnom-LM," "Volya-E," heavy platforms like the Protector, and dozens of lesser-known models currently undergoing codification by the Ministry of Defense. The payload capacity of this equipment class ranges from 15 kg for light kamikazes to over 1,000 kg for heavy logistics platforms, with speeds and operational ranges varying drastically.
Important Note: There is no such thing as a universal UGV battery. Due to the colossal differences in payload capacity and mission profiles, every combat platform requires a strictly individual approach to power system engineering.
Requirements for UGV Batteries
Tracks, manipulators, thermal imagers, and communication systems are all useless without a power source capable of withstanding field conditions. Therefore, in the technical requirements for UGV procurement tenders, the state explicitly outlines a set of strict conditions specifically for the battery:
Quick-Swap Capability: The UGV battery pack must be replaceable at the position in a matter of minutes, without tools or specialized operator training.
Fast Charging: Charging power up to 2.5–3 kW in field conditions from 1.5+ kW generators, as there is simply no time for slow equipment recovery on the frontline.
Mandatory Backup Set: Every system must include a spare set of batteries — so the robot does not turn into a stationary target due to a single depleted pack.
Deployment Time: The entire system, including power connection and testing, must be ready for operation within a maximum of 20 minutes.
Stability Under Load: The battery powers not only the drivetrain but also communication systems — Starlink, radio channels, GSM/3G/4G/5G modules — and therefore must not experience voltage drops during peak currents.
Diverse Load Profiles: A light 15 kg kamikaze with a 20 km range and a heavy 1,000 kg logistics platform with a 50 km range require fundamentally different battery solutions in terms of capacity, discharge current, and form factor.
This is why the industry is increasingly taking the path long proven in aviation and electric transport: engineering a specific battery solution for a specific chassis, task, and budget, rather than a "universal battery for everything."
PAWELL UGV Batteries: A Battery Pack for Any Technical Requirement
PAWELL engineers and manufactures battery packs for unmanned ground vehicles of all classes — from light reconnaissance platforms to heavy logistics robots with up to a ton of payload capacity. We do not ask UGV manufacturers to adapt their design to an off-the-shelf battery; on the contrary, the UGV battery pack is engineered to fit the client's existing chassis and electronics.
1. Custom Parameters: The client specifies the key characteristics — operating voltage, capacity, maximum discharge current, type and placement of military connectors, and mounting compartment dimensions — and receives a battery pack that becomes a native component of their platform, not a hasty compromise.
2. Cell Chemistry for the Task: Three main types of cells are used in production, and choosing between them is always an engineering compromise between safety, energy density, and cycle life:
LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) | Li-NMC (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) | Solid-State (Solid-State Cells) |
The highest level of thermal stability, resistance to freezing temperatures and mechanical damage, making it the baseline choice for platforms operating in direct fire contact zones. | Higher specific energy density at a lower weight and size, which is critical for light and fast platforms where every extra kilogram reduces the operational range. | The next generation of chemistry, combining high energy density with enhanced safety; we implement these solutions for clients who require maximum autonomy at minimal weight. |
3. Swap & Go Format: PAWELL batteries are manufactured in the format of quick-swap modules with robust ergonomic handles and protected contacts — replacing the battery pack at a position takes minutes, without tools. Every battery supports fast charging up to 2.5–3 kW in field conditions from 1.5+ kW generators, and a mandatory backup set is immediately included in the package.
4. Intelligent BMS: Every PAWELL battery is equipped with a Battery Management System board that monitors temperature, cell balance, and load current, handles peak starting currents during off-road movement, and stably powers all communication channels without voltage drops.
5. Serial Production: PAWELL manufactures batteries not individually, but in batches — with repeatable quality from the first to the thousandth unit. This is critical for manufacturers supplying equipment under government contracts, who must guarantee identical characteristics in every batch.
6. Practically Proven Experience: Even before entering the UGV segment, the company gained practical experience manufacturing batteries for adjacent fields — UAV and FPV drone batteries, where the requirements for reliability, weight, and stability under load are no less stringent than in ground robotics. We transfer this experience to the production of UGV batteries: applying the same approaches to cell quality control, pack assembly, and load testing.
7. Certification: PAWELL products undergo the necessary testing and certification required for dual-use equipment. This allows PAWELL batteries to be seamlessly integrated into systems supplied under Ministry of Defense government contracts.
How PAWELL Batteries Meet the Requirements of the 50,000 UGV State Tender
In 2026, the State announced a massive objective — to procure 50,000 unmanned ground vehicles through a series of transparent, competitive tenders.
The procedure consists of two stages: first, the participant confirms technical compliance via a comparative table, then proceeds to the pricing round, where, given equal technical characteristics, the lowest battery price wins.
A significant portion of the tender's technical requirements relates specifically to the system's energy component, and PAWELL batteries are engineered to directly address them:
Power and Fast Charging: The quick-swap format, 2.5–3 kW charging from field generators, and a mandatory backup set are all built into the design of PAWELL batteries from the very beginning.
Endurance Under Load: With UGV payloads ranging from 15 kg to 1,000 kg, speeds from 12 to 40 km/h, and communication systems requiring power without voltage drops — our intelligent BMS and discharge current margins ensure stable operation even at the limits of the chassis's capabilities.
Readiness for Future Infrastructure Challenges: The industry is actively discussing field hybrid charging stations and the integration of diesel generators directly onboard UGVs for charging on the move. PAWELL batteries are engineered with integration into such hybrid power systems in mind.
Codification and Tender Admission: A mandatory condition for participation is having an NSN (NATO Stock Number) codification for the product; without it, the company will not be admitted to the tender. Using certified PAWELL battery packs assembled according to documented quality standards simplifies the process for UGV manufacturers to pass technical reviews and obtain codification for their finalized systems.
Frequently Asked Questions About UGV Batteries
What battery is required for a UGV?
It depends on the platform class. A light 15–20 kg kamikaze UGV needs a compact, lightweight battery pack with high specific energy density (Li-NMC), whereas a heavy 500–1,000 kg logistics platform requires a high-capacity, thermally stable LiFePO4 battery with a high discharge current. There is no universal solution: parameters are selected for the specific chassis and task.
What is the difference between LiFePO4 and Li-NMC batteries for UGVs?
LiFePO4 is more resistant to overheating, freezing, and mechanical damage — making it the optimal choice for equipment operating under fire. Li-NMC is lighter and more compact for the same capacity, which is why it is chosen for fast, light platforms where every hundred grams matters.
Can I order a UGV battery pack customized to my technical requirements?
Yes. The Ukrainian company PAWELL engineers batteries according to the client's technical specifications — including voltage, capacity, discharge current, connector type, and mounting compartment dimensions — followed by a transition to serial production.
Does PAWELL have the certification necessary to participate in government tenders?
PAWELL products undergo the testing and certification required for dual-use equipment, which simplifies the process for UGV manufacturers to pass technical reviews and obtain NSN codification for their finalized systems.
How long does it take to manufacture a batch of UGV battery packs?
Lead times depend on the batch volume and the complexity of the technical specifications. PAWELL works with both small runs for test samples and large batches for supply contracts — exact timelines are agreed upon individually for each order.
The combat readiness of modern UGVs is determined not only by their chassis or armor but by the quality of their battery system. A quick-swap battery capable of withstanding field conditions is a detail invisible in photos but decisive at the position. If you are developing ground platforms, preparing for government tenders, or looking to increase the autonomy of existing equipment — you need a solution engineered specifically for your tasks.
Need to integrate reliable power into your product?
Contact the PAWELL engineering department. We will engineer a battery pack (LiFePO4, Li-NMC, or Solid-State) to your technical specifications — covering capacity, current, and connectors. We guarantee serial quality and compliance with military standards.
