The ground Loyal Wingman revolution - opinion

Over the past two decades, the concept of the Loyal Wingman has been perceived almost exclusively as part of the aerial domain. Manned combat aircraft, accompanied by unmanned aerial vehicles, have become a symbol of modern warfare. The UAV flies alongside the pilot, executes high-risk missions, absorbs fire, collects intelligence, and at times even conducts strikes – all without endangering human life.

This concept did not emerge from technological enthusiasm, but out of genuine operational necessity. Over time, the skies have become increasingly dense and threatening, saturated with air-defense systems, precision missiles, and advanced sensors. The cost of losing an aircraft and its pilot is immense, both in human and strategic terms. The solution was the creation of a loyal, unmanned companion, one willing to assume risks and perform missions that humans would prefer to avoid.

Today, this idea is making its way down to the ground – and not by coincidence. If the skies have become dangerous, the ground battlefield has become a truly lethal trap. Improvised explosive devices, mines, attacking drones, precision anti-tank fire, snipers, dense urban combat, and a dispersed enemy exploiting every corner and contour of the terrain.

Tanks and armored personnel carriers, once symbols of power and survivability, now find themselves increasingly vulnerable. It is precisely here that the concept of the Ground Loyal Wingman emerges – an unmanned ground robotic platform operating alongside a manned vehicle, supporting it, protecting it, and significantly enhancing its combat power.

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