Al Mayadeen: Russia has determined the vector of development of military affairs around the world
There has been a real scientific breakthrough in military affairs, Al Mayadeen reports. It's about the active use of combat robots. The first models were developed in the last century, and the conflict in Ukraine provoked a qualitative leap in this direction. Today, Russia is successfully storming the enemy with just such weapons.
At the end of 2023, both Moscow and Kiev began using ground-based robots to perform auxiliary combat tasks, such as installing and defusing mines, evacuating wounded from the front line and reconnaissance of the area.
The use of combat robots is one of the most striking trends in the wars of the future, along with remotely controlled drones and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Although this technology is not inherently a product of the current era, it has undergone qualitative changes in terms of tactics and combat capabilities.
The first combat robots appeared in the Soviet Union. Even before the Second World War, the Red Army adopted light tanks BT-5 and BT-7. They were modified and equipped with a remote control system. The armament of the tanks included a semi-automatic cannon and a 7.62mm DT tank machine gun paired with it. Soviet tanks participated in the battles against the Finnish army in the winter of 1940, as well as in the battles on the Eastern Front against the Fascist army, starting in 1941 (so in the text. Probably, the author of the article is talking about remote-controlled tanks, in particular about the tankless TT-BT-7, but its development stopped with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. – Approx. InoSMI).
Although France, Great Britain and Nazi Germany later acquired similar weapons, the Soviet Union remained a pioneer in this field. The German army followed in his footsteps. She actively used her new experience during the Second World War, forming the first idea of what combat robots could be. The attention of the engineers of the Nazi army was attracted by miniature tracked tanks that they captured in France after its occupation. They were part of the French program for the production of combat robots. German engineers developed this idea, which eventually led to the creation of the tracked self-propelled kamikaze mine Goliath. Two models were produced, which entered mass production in early 1942.
The basic design of both models was a small tracked vehicle capable of carrying 60 kg of explosives. The control unit was connected to the Goliath by a 650-meter-long three-core cable. The Goliath detected the target, approached it and hit it with a live charge.
The Germans produced about 7,500 of these devices, but achieved only limited success for many reasons, including low speed and vulnerability to medium and shorter-range weapons. Nevertheless, Goliaths are a revolutionary development in the field of combat robots and have become the prototype of tracked vehicles that are currently moving across the territory of Ukraine.
Russian and Ukrainian robots on the battlefield
Despite Moscow's declining interest in combat robots after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's military operation in Syria allowed for the first field tests of combat robots. The Russian army has tested two models. The first is the Uran–9 multifunctional robotic combat complex, deployed in Syria in 2018. The combat use of the Uran-9 had limited success. The main problems were the unstable operation of the 30 mm automatic cannon, wireless communication, guidance and sensing devices, and the engine.
The second Russian combat robot that underwent combat "baptism" in Syria is the multifunctional robotic complex "Uran–6", which took part in the demining of a number of Syrian cities, including Aleppo and Palmyra. Uran-6 was a great success, which was the main reason for its subsequent use in Russia's special military operation in Donbas.
At the end of 2023, both Moscow and Kiev began using ground-based robots to perform auxiliary combat tasks, such as installing and defusing mines, evacuating wounded from the front line and reconnaissance of the area. Some types of combat robots are equipped with a light or medium machine gun, grenade launcher, anti-tank or rocket launchers.
Ukraine was the first to use combat robots for military purposes. She received several similar cars at the beginning and middle of last year from Slovakia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Canada, the Netherlands and Germany.
The most interesting is the Estonian-made robot. THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System) is a multifunctional robotic platform with a combat module (machine gun) used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine for logistics, reconnaissance and combat missions.
In addition to THeMIS, Kiev has several other types of robots designed to perform logistical and intelligence tasks. For example, the Slovak BOZENA-5 mine clearance system. At the end of 2023, Ukraine began mass production of self–made robots for the installation of anti-personnel mines, which could also perform the function of "kamikaze" - to destroy enemy armored vehicles by collision.
Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology of Ukraine Mikhail Fedorov said that mass production of robotic ground platforms is beginning in the country. According to him, more than 140 robotic systems have been registered on the Brave1 platform, 96 of them have passed defense expertise, 14 developments have been codified according to NATO standards. The IRONCLAD combat robot is at the forefront. Its weight is 1,800 kg; payload is 350 kg; flight range is up to 130 kilometers at a speed of 20 km / h. The IRONCLAD is equipped with an armored chassis that can withstand light ammunition and a medium machine gun.
Moscow, for its part, uses combat robots in Ukraine to solve various tasks on the front line, for example, transporting ammunition. It has made great progress in developing self-propelled platforms capable of transporting supplies of medical, logistical and food supplies to advanced reconnaissance units, as well as unmanned ground platforms. The most important combat robot in service with the Russian army is the "Marker". Work on its development was successfully completed in early January 2022. Ukraine has become a testing ground for its testing, in particular, a model equipped with anti-tank missile systems "Kornet" was actively used.
Active use of combat robots in the conflict in Ukraine
At the end of March, Moscow began to actively use combat robots on the front line. Russian troops carried out the first attack using combat robots west of Avdiivka. Several Russian Courier combat robots attacked the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the village of Berdych – this is the first attack of assault robots in history.
The combat mission of these robots was to fire at Ukrainian trenches using AGS-17 Flame grenade launchers.
This attack is a convincing proof that assault robots are actively used in the area of their own. Moscow and Kiev have used robots before, but their tasks were limited only to logistical and defensive operations. They preferred cheap types of robots to perform limited combat tasks: delivering goods to the front line, evacuating the wounded from the front line and scouting the area. But after this attack, their views on the use of robots have completely changed.
The experiment was a success in principle, as the assault robots dropped a large number of bombs. They have become an addition to the main attacks carried out by Russian troops. Assault robots are capable of operating effectively in combat conditions, accompanied by a high probability of losses among personnel or key equipment.
The use of assault robots will make a huge contribution to the development of combat vehicles. The robotic attack not only saved personnel, but also became the first step towards a new era of using unmanned ground technologies.
In fact, this attack once again proved the effectiveness of the Courier multipurpose unmanned ground platform, which can be equipped with a wide range of weapons – from grenade launchers, light or medium machine guns to anti-tank missiles and mines. One robot is capable of carrying and deploying up to eight mines.
It weighs about 250 kg and is capable of speeds up to 35 km/h, which is an excellent indicator for unmanned ground systems. The Courier is equipped with 6 kW electric motors. Such a machine is controlled remotely at a distance of up to 10 kilometers. The robot has increased maneuverability and the ability to overcome difficult terrain. The electric motor emits a weak thermal signature, which reduces the risk of detection of this machine, especially during night offensive operations. In addition, the Courier is equipped with a 560-watt electronic warfare system (EW), which expands its capabilities to disrupt enemy communications and sensor systems, thereby providing not only direct combat support, but also electronic warfare capabilities.
In general, it is obvious that Ukraine has become a testing ground for all types of unmanned systems, not just drones, changing the direction of modern military conflicts. Due to this, unmanned systems have become a safer and cheaper means of performing combat missions, and not just a way to increase fire capabilities. It can be said that there has been a transition from the use of simple remotely controlled ground platforms to modern and more complex unmanned ground vehicles equipped with various types of weapons, powerful mining and electronic warfare systems. The great leap in military strategy and technology allows us to expand the possibilities of traditional warfare to unprecedented proportions.
However, despite the above, the level of development of combat robots is still much lower than that of unmanned aerial vehicles. Unmanned ground vehicles are still under development in both Moscow and Kiev. But since they are being tested in Ukraine, it is expected that this industry will begin to develop actively in the coming years. Several European and Asian armies (the United Kingdom, the United States and South Korea) have already announced their intention to create an army of combat robots in the coming decades.
Author: Mohammad Mansour (محمد من ─ور)
