Ukraine's defence ministry has announced that its Novator armoured personnel carrier, which costs around $300,000 (£224,000), can now be operated remotely, with a released video showing the vehicle being steered by a PlayStation-style steering wheel controller. Officials say removing the crew increases the vehicle's payload capacity and, more importantly, reduces the risk to soldiers' lives, reflecting a broader trend towards uncrewed and remotely operated systems on the modern battlefield.

According to manufacturer Ukrainian Armor, the roughly 20,000lb Novator has five gunports, can carry up to 10 people, and features bulletproof glass with an added layer to trap flying shards. The vehicle has a top speed of 87mph and a range of at least 310 miles. The article notes the approach is not unprecedented: Wired reported in 2024 that the US Army and Marine Corps have used Xbox controllers for over a decade to operate small unmanned vehicles, explosive ordnance disposal equipment, submarine photonics masts and laser weapon systems.