Ukrainian National Guardsmen to Test German Quantum Systems Developments for Unmanned Logistics, Featuring Zetros Trucks and MANDRILL UAVs
The National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) is set to explore the potential of unmanned logistics solutions from German company Quantum Systems, a firm that has previously supplied unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Defense Forces. This new initiative involves robotic Zetros trucks equipped with MOSAIC Ground Autonomy Kits and MANDRILL UAVs.
A multi-million euro contract for these supplies, under the Ukrainian Research and Development Program, was recently signed in Kyiv. The vehicles will be deployed in real-world operational environments to gather user feedback, which will then inform further development of these systems.
Under the agreement, the Ukrainian National Guard is expected to receive 10 MANDRILL UAVs and 10 autonomous Zetros trucks. The manufacturer of the latter, Daimler Truck Defence, is also participating in the project as an official partner.
From Defense Express’s perspective, this signifies a clear trend towards developing unmanned logistics capabilities for the Defense Forces. We have previously reported on an Estonian company, Telearmy, which offers a remote control system for vehicles, also being considered by the Ukrainian military in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The MOSAIC Ground Autonomy Kit is designed to convert conventional vehicles and other machines into autonomous platforms. This technology is integrated into the MOSAIC UXS software suite, which facilitates mission planning, definition, and the management of multiple drones within a single system.
This enables the creation of comprehensive logistics systems that receive commands from a control center. The system also supports single-vehicle control via a smartphone or convoy movement, following a lead manned vehicle. While currently developed based on Daimler Trucks platforms, the system can be integrated with other vehicle types. The selection of Zetros for Ukraine is logical, given their widespread use by the Defense Forces.
Regarding the MANDRILL UAV, it is a modular drone capable of carrying over 750 kg of payload with an operational range exceeding 200 km on electric power. Its declared maximum speed is 100 km/h, though this likely applies to ideal road conditions.
It is worth noting that significant investments are being made in the field of autonomous trucks by other countries as well. For instance, in November 2025, Spanish firm Sener Aerospace & Defence showcased its COMMANDS convoy management system, developed with EU support. Their testing platform utilized Iveco trucks.
Beyond logistics, such systems hold potential for other applications, including autonomous air defense platforms. For example, a vehicle equipped with an anti-aircraft gun could autonomously proceed to a combat patrol area to intercept targets. Various armament options for the Zetros platform were demonstrated at Eurosatory 2026.
The ultimate effectiveness of autonomous trucks for logistics and other tasks, considering technological limitations and other factors, remains to be seen. However, conducting trials in Ukraine could provide valuable insights and offer an opportunity to refine these developments into fully operational systems.
As a reminder, Quantum Systems has been supplying its UAVs, such as the reconnaissance Vector drones, which have performed well on the battlefield, to the Ukrainian military. The company also maintains a presence in Ukraine and is actively investing in the Ukrainian defense industry.