According to Ukrainian media reports, Ukraine has a clear lead in the ground drone sector: up to 15,000 unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) are to be brought to the front line this year. Although Russia has tripled its production compared to the previous year, it only has around 1,500 systems – including the Kurier, a technologically very remarkable model.
Development of the courier
The courier project began in the first phase with a company from Ulan-Ude. It later received support from the Popular Front, a “Russian citizens’ movement” founded in 2011 on the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin to monitor the implementation of presidential directives.
Well-known military bloggers such as Boris Rozhin (“Colonel Cassad”) and Chingis Dambiev also joined the project. The robot was given the name Kurier and the type designation HTPK (land-based robotic complex), which it still bears today.
The HTPK Kurier was shown to the public for the first time at the beginning of 2024; in April of the same year, a field test was carried out in the Avdiivka area – Militär Aktuell reported. In October 2024, 50 units were delivered to the so-called “special operations zone”. Since then, Courier robots have appeared regularly in videos. Monthly production on a similar scale seems plausible.
In the fall, the developers invited inventors and engineers from all over Russia to participate. The vehicles on show have a repeatable production quality – the project has clearly outgrown the hobby workshop and moved into industrial production.
The system was presented to President Putin at a meeting of the Military Industrial Commission in St. Petersburg. Similar to the Lancet drones the Kurier is increasingly attracting the interest of major Russian media.
Technical description
Kurier is 1.4 meters long, 1.2 meters wide and 58 centimeters high, weighs 250 kilograms and reaches speeds of up to 35 km/h with two 6 kW electric motors. The operating time is specified as 12 to 72 hours.
The call to engineers apparently led to several communication variants: In addition to a radio link with a range of 3 to 10 kilometers, control via fiber optic cable is also documented. Particularly noteworthy is the now officially available option for operation via Starlink satellite internet.
The undercarriage consists of two rubber tracks with six rollers each, a drive wheel and a guide wheel. Russian sources and video footage suggest that the design can withstand hits from at least smaller anti-personnel mines – whether this only applies to PFM-1 “butterfly mines” or also to more powerful models remains to be seen.
At the front there is an electric winch as well as run-off rails on both sides for four TM-62 or TM-83 anti-tank mines. Either a transport cage or a weapon module can be mounted above the rails.
A trailer coupling is located at the rear. The control electronics are presumably also located in the rear area, where the radio antenna, data antennas and several electro-optical and IR cameras are also located. The Starlink antenna is usually located under a radome above the left mine run-off rail. The module was first used for the exercise “Sapad-2025” exercise and is now in front-line use.
Armament options
In use or tested are, among others:
- AGS-17 Plamja and AGS-30 Atlant (30×29 millimeters, up to 150 rounds each)
- RPG hollow charge launcher
- ATGM anti-tank missiles
- NSWT 12.7 millimeter machine gun (250 rounds)
- PKT 7.62 millimeter (900 rounds)
-
RPO-A Schmel (disposable flame thrower)
New videos also show a laser module and concepts for use as an EloKa vehicle.
HTPK courier in action
The courier is currently used most frequently in front-line logistics. The robots are loaded, taken to the drop-off point by small truck and driven from there to the troops by remote control. They often pull single-axle trailers. Kurier has also been observed clearing minefields on several occasions.
One image shows an armored rescue capsule for evacuating the wounded. Videos of exercises – such as “Sapad-2025” – document its use as a fire support platform. Tests have at least been carried out on the front line. Concepts for use as an electronic warfare carrier have also been developed.
Training for logistics tasks only takes a few days, depending on the background of the operating personnel. Russia – like Ukraine – is working on procedures to integrate UGVs deeply into battle management and tactics. However, the frontline trials to date do not yet allow any conclusions to be drawn about broad or standardized deployment concepts.
Nevertheless, Russia is already promoting the system internationally: in October, the courier was officially presented at the first Russian-Sri Lankan maneuver “Wolverine Path 2025”.
Here to our drone topic area with all the latest news on the subject and here for further news about the Russian armed forces.
