During the strategic exercises "West-2021", the Russian army for the first time used robotic complexes for fire support of units, reconnaissance, mine clearance and ammunition delivery. This is a significant step forward in creating an unmanned army, writes the US Army publication Stars and stripes.
During the maneuvers, the tracked vehicle "Uran-9", armed with a 30-mm automatic cannon, a machine gun and anti-tank missiles, destroyed targets at a distance of up to three kilometers. The smaller robot "Nerekhta" fired at targets with a machine gun and a grenade launcher, and also performed tasks for the delivery of ammunition in combat. The engineering vehicle "Uran-6" conducted mine clearance.
- This fact is certainly important. It means that Russia continues to experiment and look for new ways to increase the striking power and survivability of its troops, " says military expert Alexis Mracek.
According to his colleague Samuel Bendett from the Center for a New American Security, the Zapad exercise is part of an effort to train the Russian military to integrate new systems into combined - arms formations, where they should work as part of various units.
Anton Valagin