German defense robotics prime ARX Robotics and Ukrainian defense tech firm Roboneers have completed initial integration trials combining Roboneers’ combat-proven SABER (Shablia) Remote Weapon Station (RWS) with ARX’s GEREON uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) chassis.
Announced on October 29, 2026, the milestone operationalizes the strategic defense industrial agreement executed in Kyiv on October 4 in the presence of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Under the joint engineering framework, the initial production tranche will integrate SABER RWS modules in M2 (.50-caliber heavy machine gun) and MK 19 (M) (40mm automatic grenade launcher) configurations, with full systems integration targeted for completion by late 2026. The armed GEREON platforms will provide Ukrainian frontline brigades with remotely operated point-defense and offensive assault capabilities, building upon ARX’s existing footprint as the operator of the largest Western-manufactured UGV fleet currently deployed in Ukraine.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: GEREON UGV / ROBONEERS SABER RWS COMBAT SYSTEM
System Developers, Industrial Joint Venture & Operational Lineage
⚡ System Integrators: ARX Robotics (Munich, Germany) & Roboneers / ARX Industries JV (Kyiv, Ukraine)
⚡ Tracked Platform Baseline: GEREON Medium Modular Tracked Uncrewed Ground Vehicle (UGV)
⚡ Remote Weapon Payload: Roboneers SABER (Shablia) Modular Remote Weapon Station (RWS)
⚡ Strategic Industrial Framework: Joint venture “ARX Industries” established for mass production of Rys Pro and GEREON chassis across sites in Germany (in partnership with DEUTZ) and Ukraine
⚡ Target Delivery Timeline: Full M2 / MK 19 integration targeted for end-of-year 2026; immediate fielding to Ukrainian combat units based on frontline demand vectors 
GEREON UGV Platform Mobility & Software Architecture
💥 Powerplant & Production Scale: DEUTZ industrial power systems / battery-electric hybrid powertrain; mass-manufactured across automated assembly lines in Germany and Ukraine
💥 Physical Dimensions & Payload Capacity: Compact low-RCS tracked chassis with modular payload capacity ranging from 300 kg to 500+ kg depending on armor package
💥 Software & Autonomy Suite: Powered by ARX Mithra OS software stack, featuring obstacle detection, GPS-denied navigation, autonomous waypoint following, and secure telemetry links
💥 Mission Versatility: Quick-change modular deck framework allowing rapid conversion between ISR, casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), EW jamming, logisitic supply, and armed combat roles
Roboneers SABER (Shablia) RWS Payload Baseline
🚀 Armament Integration: Compatible with .50-caliber (12.7×99mm) M2 Browning HMG, 40mm MK 19 automatic grenade launchers, 7.62mm PKT/M240 machine guns, and assault rifle platforms
🚀 Target Acquisition & Optics: Multi-channel optical sensor head featuring thermal imaging (FLIR), daytime high-definition camera, and integrated laser rangefinder (LRF)
🚀 Remote Control & Fire Control System (FCS): Operate remotely via secure fiber-optic or encrypted wireless C2 terminals at stand-off ranges exceeding 1.5 to 2.0 km, isolating operators from enemy counter-battery and FPV drone strikes
🚀 Stabilized Firing Platform: Multi-axis gyro-stabilization ensuring high first-round hit probability against maneuvering infantry, uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS), and light armored vehicles
TIMES OF DEFENCE ASSESSMENT
The integration of Roboneers’ SABER RWS onto ARX Robotics’ GEREON platform represents a mature phase in uncrewed land warfare: transitioning UGVs from unarmed transport and CASEVAC assets into fully integrated, remotely operated strike units.
From an engineering and infantry tactics perspective, the armed GEREON-SABER pairing delivers key operational advantages:
1. **Operator Distance in High-Risk Contact Zones**: In a battlefield environment dominated by FPV strike drones and dense artillery coverage, manned heavy machine gun and grenade launcher positions suffer extreme casualty rates. Deploying the SABER module on an uncrewed, low-profile tracked platform allows operators to engage enemy positions or conduct perimeter defense from hardened bunkers up to two kilometers away.
2. **Standardized Hardware with Rapid Payload Modularity**: ARX Robotics’ decision to utilize open software interfaces (Mithra OS) and modular hardpoints allows the Ukrainian Armed Forces to mount SABER weapon stations onto GEREON chassis already operating in the field. Units can utilize the same underlying vehicle for night-time ammunition resupply or CASEVAC, then rapidly mount a .50-cal SABER module for morning defensive screening.
3. **Scalable Mass Production Pipeline**: By establishing the “ARX Industries” joint venture and partnering with major industrial manufacturers like DEUTZ, ARX and Roboneers are moving beyond low-volume prototype fielding. The capacity to produce four-digit quantities of UGV chassis annually ensures that loss rates in high-intensity combat can be continuously offset by scalable manufacturing lines in Germany and Ukraine.
