Ukrainians Receive RATEL Ground Drones, Rare Turkish Grenade Launchers

Ukrainian troops have taken delivery of RATEL ground drones and have been spotted using rare Turkish grenade launchers.

Funds for unmanned vehicles were raised by Ukrainian actor Vladislav Shevchenko. Six UGVs with control panels and repeaters cost UAH 730,000.

RATEL is designed to destroy enemy positions and armored vehicles, to which the operator must direct this drone. It is used as a mobile warhead that carries anti-tank mines or other explosives.

The maximum speed of the drone is 24km, and the operating time is 40-50 minutes at normal speed and up to 2 hours at reduced speed. The drone can be equipped with 35kg of payload, taking into account obstacles in the way of the UGV.

Ukrainian military were observed using RDS40-MGL 40-mm multiple grenade launchers produced by Turkey’s Repkon in photos shared on social media.

Neither side had previously reported Turkey’s transfer of the weapons. It is also unknown whether these weapons were acquired or transferred as part of military assistance.

The RDS40-MGL grenade launcher is a recently developed weapon, testing of which was to be completed in 2022 with the adoption into service by the Turkish Armed Forces. Their serial delivery to the Turkish army has not been reported.

The peculiarity of this grenade launcher is the possibility of using 40×46mm reduced ballistics ammunition, which are standard for infantry weapons, as well as 40×53mm medium ballistics grenades used in easel grenade launchers.

RDS40-MGL is equipped with several Picatinny rails for mounting optical sights for more accurate targeting, although by default it is equipped with a mechanical sight.

A 5.4 kg grenade launcher is capable of precision fire at a distance of 400 meters with ammunition of 40×46mm caliber, and up to 800 meters with ammunition of 40×53mm calibre, as per Militarnyi.

Both calibers are standard for NATO countries and have been distributed in the Ukrainian army since 2022. Among the varieties of grenades are debris and debris-shaped ammunition. The latter are capable of penetrating up to 70 mm of armor depending on the model.