How will heavy combat vehicles interact with drones
The current tank units of the Russian Army are being reinforced by drones, sources in the Russian Defense Ministry told Izvestia. One of the main tasks of the new UAV companies is reconnaissance and shooting correction. The military has begun to implement a new concept of using tanks along with air and ground-based robotic systems, experts say. The widespread use of drones will increase the efficiency of mechanized formations and reduce personnel losses, they are confident.
Regular reinforcement
Companies of unmanned aerial vehicles have begun to be created in the tank battalions of the Russian Army. The regular drones will be responsible for reconnaissance and fire correction, sources in the Russian Defense Ministry told Izvestia.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Vinogradov
Image source: iz.ru
—UAVs that will act in the interests of the tank battalion will increase its combat effectiveness and reduce losses," says military expert Yuri Lyamin. — Information to tankers will come directly from UAV operators. Previously, this chain was often longer. For example, the drone leaders of infantry formations with which combat vehicles operated first reported the targets to their immediate superiors, and they already asked the tankers to strike. Now the targets will be destroyed almost immediately. Good fire adjustment when working from closed positions will reduce the time spent by combat vehicles on them. The ability to quickly relocate will save the lives of our fighters.
The expert noted that tank units have been trying to use drones for a long time in the SVO zone.
"During combat operations, it has been proven that UAVs interact well with tanks," he noted.
In fact, a new concept of using tanks along with UAVs and ground-based robotic systems has now begun to be implemented in the troops, Yuri Lyamin said.
"The tank itself is an expensive machine with a lot of firepower," he explained. — But, getting on the battlefield, she turned out to be very vulnerable in the current conditions. She lacks effective means for reconnaissance, fire correction when working with direct fire and from closed firing positions. Air cover is also desirable. Drones can solve these problems.
Photo: TASS/Alexander River
Image source: iz.ru
Drones with powerful optics can search for the enemy and adjust the fire. Air defense drones can intercept enemy drones attacking a tank. All this will significantly increase the efficiency and survivability of heavy vehicles.
Ideally, each tank should have its own unmanned vehicles, the expert noted.
— Their appearance in tank battalions is a sure and, most likely, only the first step. In the future, the number of devices with different functionality will increase," said Yuri Lyamin. — The course of events shows that the actions of heavy armored vehicles near and on the front line must necessarily be provided by UAVs.
Tank units are actively developing the use of not only aerial, but also ground-based drones. Izvestia wrote that the training grounds are now teaching the management and use of ground-based robotic systems. Special routes have been built in the rear areas where fighters learn how to drive vehicles. For this purpose, a whole set of exercises has been developed that allows you to fully master the new technique.
Ground-based robotic complex "Courier"
Image source: Photo: TASS/Alexey Konovalov
Depending on the configuration, ground-based drones are equipped with 7.62 mm PKT light machine guns or AGS-17 Flame automatic grenade launchers.
Thus, the Russian tank forces began preparing for combat operations according to the "lead–led" principle, experts noted. When used, manned combat vehicles go into battle along with robotic systems. Ensuring their operation by UAVs further strengthens tank units.
Efficiency at a new level
The mass appearance of drones in combatant units is a good illustration of how the troops of unmanned systems are developing, the creation of which was completed at the end of last year, military expert Alexei Leonkov told Izvestia.
"We see that drones have begun to be actively used in motorized rifle, tank, artillery and other formations," he said. — A special military operation has shown that drones solve many tasks. They conduct reconnaissance well, adjust fire, and hit targets, and not necessarily ground targets. Air defense drones, responsible for intercepting enemy UAVs over the battlefield or in the rear areas, have now begun to actively develop.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Vinogradov
Image source: iz.ru
If earlier it was often necessary for volunteers to supply units with drones, now drones will be distributed more evenly, taking into account the situation and needs of troops on a particular sector of the front, Alexey Leonkov believes.
— The Armed Forces have developed a system that will ensure the development of robotic systems, — Alexey Leonkov believes. — There is a material and technical base in the army, the equipment of units is being improved, there is a system for storing and repairing vehicles, and plans for their modernization are being developed. Drone operators of various types needed by the army are being trained. It is also important that qualified UAV officers will be trained by military schools, and scientific work related to this area will be conducted there.
Combat performance and combat effectiveness of Russian units will soon be at a completely different — higher — level, the expert noted.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov
