Killer robots have arrived in Europe, as the Netherlands has officially become the first NATO country to deploy 'uncrewed ground vehicles' (UGVs).

The Royal Netherlands Army has been trialling four armed THeMIS UGVs alongside the Dutch 13th Light Brigade in Lithuania since last month, just a few hundred miles from Ukraine.

Just like an unmanned drone, the UGVs can patrol autonomously or be piloted remotely by a soldier.

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It can function as an anti-tank weapon, a landing pad for drones, a medical vehicle, or even a fire engine.

Dutch Lt Col Mevissen said: "We have deployed four weaponised [unmanned] machines within an operational experiment. To my knowledge, we have not seen this before in the West."

He added: "The machines have been handed over for experimental use in an operational unit in a military-relevant environment. These are not simply tests on a training ground. We are under the direct eyes and ears of the Russians, and as such in a semi-operational environment."

It's worth noting that the THeMIS UGVs aren't completely autonomous, but require a controller when in action.

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The UGVs could prove deadly thanks to their 'silent mode' as well as off-road capabilities.

Russia reportedly have their own THeMIS UGVs, which were deployed to Syria in 2018. Apparently, Russian forces experienced technical issues with the kit.

Militaries from several NATO countries have begun exploring the use of autonomous weaponry. Last year, the French Defence Ethics Committee argued in favour of 'partially autonomous' weapons which are monitored by human controllers.

Autonomous weapons have also been met with fierce resistance by Elon Musk, scientists, and other specialists. In 2017, Musk and 116 others signed an open letter to the UN calling on it to ban autonomous weapons and prevent a new AI 'arms race'.

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