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US-based defense technology company Swarmer is acquiring Ukrainian ground robotics maker Ratel Robotics in a cash-and-stock deal worth up to $224 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. The deal reflects growing Western investment in Ukraine's homegrown defense technology sector. Ratel Robotics has developed unmanned ground vehicles used in combat and logistics roles, and the acquisition is expected to expand Swarmer's autonomous systems portfolio using Ukrainian battlefield-tested technology.