A fully robotic tank has been created on the basis of the T-72B3. Now he is preparing for the tests. It is planned to test control systems and a shortened 125 mm cannon.
The Sturm complex consists of several vehicles. Among them are a mobile control center, a heavy robot with a smoothbore shortened gun, as well as a robot with rocket-propelled flamethrowers "Bumblebee", paired 30-millimeter automatic guns and a block of 220-millimeter thermobaric unguided rockets. The vehicles are developed on the basis of T-72B3 tanks. This was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to its source in the military-industrial complex.
The main task of all the armies of the world is to minimize human losses. Therefore, increased attention is paid everywhere to the creation of combat robotics. It is believed that the T-14 Armata tank is the best for protecting its crew. But ideally - to make an armored vehicle without a crew at all. This is exactly what the Sturm complex should become. The crews of the tank and its accompanying vehicles will be in a shelter, from where they will be able to remotely control the entire assault complex. By the way, primarily designed for fighting in urban environments, where the probability of hitting armored vehicles is very high.
The first attempts to create remote-controlled tanks and torpedo boats were made in the USSR back in the 1930s. They were unsuccessful simply because of the backwardness of the then radio technology. Few people know, but the T-80 remote control system was practically implemented in the 1980s.
There was such a wonderful Ka-50 "Black Shark" helicopter. The T-80 had a gas turbine engine identical to a helicopter. The military conducted a series of tests to refuel this tank with aviation kerosene from a helicopter. Theoretically, the T-80 could be left without fuel in an area where a wheeled tanker simply would not pass. The tests were very successful. Having assessed the compatibility of the tank and helicopter controls, as well as the capabilities of the "Black Shark", the general designer and creator of the Ka-50 Sergey Viktorovich Mikheev proposed to develop an algorithm for controlling the tank from the helicopter.
It was assumed that in a situation where the crew could face real danger or the crew would not be able to control their car, a helicopter would come to the rescue. The "black Shark" freezes in automatic mode at a distance from the battlefield. And the helicopter pilot takes control of the tank. On the monitor screen, the pilot could see the same picture as the tank crew through their viewing devices. With the help of a separate joystick, it was possible to control the movement of the tank, taking it to a safe place. And even fire guns and machine guns. This difficult task was practically solved. But then the USSR collapsed, the production and improvement of the T-80 stopped. And then the generals from the Air Force did everything so that the Ka-50 project itself was closed. It is good that the Kamovites managed to launch the Ka-52 "Alligator" into production, which shows the best results in combat conditions.
It remains to be hoped that the robotic complex "Sturm" will be successfully tested and will be put into production this year. The army really needs it.
Sergey Ptichkin
