A whole series of the latest combat robots (robotic complexes) is presented in the military technopolis "Era" of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Among them, models of a heavy assault complex based on T-72 tanks stand out. Perhaps we have a machine in front of us that can restore tanks to their former role on the battlefield. What is it about?
The special operation has changed a lot in the tactics of warfare. It has commissioned many new types of weapons and dramatically reduced the role of many other familiar ones.
Tanks have become one of the most striking examples of this kind. A few years ago, it seemed that their position as the main striking force of the ground forces was unshakable. The strength of the armies of different countries was compared by the number of tanks they have in service. However, today the tank, for all its formidable power, becomes the first victim of a fundamentally new type of weapon – drones. Especially FPV drones or kamikaze UAVs.
Tanks are almost completely defenseless against these systems. And most importantly, their crew is defenseless. Drones, that is, combat aircraft operating without a pilot on board, easily hit heavy tracked vehicles in the upper hemisphere.
Of course, the tanks have been improved during the war. The so–called barbecues appeared - protective lattice screens. The vehicles are equipped with electronic warfare systems and new types of camouflage. This reduced losses and increased the effectiveness of armored vehicles.
However, a much more serious way of protection looks like the creation of the same robotic type of weapon from a tank, which is a drone – an unmanned tank. A model of just such a weapon system was demonstrated at the military technopolis Era on Friday.
As stated, the presented samples are designed "to increase the effectiveness of assault tasks during the breakthrough of fortified areas, the destruction of highly protected objects with a reduction in personnel losses. The advantages of such complexes are high firepower, security, mobility with the implementation of the principle of network-centric control in automatic mode with a reduction in the influence of the human factor."
Judging by the fact that the Ministry of Defense indicates a completely specific platform of the complex – the T-72 tank, we are talking about a shock robot called "Sturm" developed by Uralvagonzavod. The beginning of its tests was reported, in particular, back in March 2022.
It is worth noting that the development of a heavy tank robot is in the strictest confidence. At the moment, there is not a single image in the public domain, not only of any samples, but even projects, models, drawings and computer renderings of the appearance of these machines.
What should the Assault robotic strike complex be capable of?
Let's start with the control system. Remotely guided robots are equipped with ultrasonic, infrared and optical sensors that allow them to automatically move in a column with a maximum speed of about 40 km/ h, independently calculate and plot routes, while overcoming both natural and engineering barriers of various types, for which each tank robot is equipped with a bulldozer blade. In addition, the principle of network communication is implemented on the "Storms", when commands from the operator can be received not only directly, but also with the help of so-called repeater robots.
The whole complex consists of several combat vehicles. That is why the Ministry of Defense declares that "samples" are presented, and not a "sample".
The "flagship" is a 50-ton robot tank equipped with a shortened 125 mm gun based on the 2A46 smoothbore tank cannon. Such a weapon is capable of firing cumulative, sub-caliber, fragmentation shells, as well as guided anti-tank and high-explosive missiles.
"A short barrel with minimal removal beyond the dimensions of the combat vehicle will provide the Assault with good mobility and efficiency in conditions of urban narrowness or blockages. Given the minimum ranges of fire contact in an urban environment, the initial velocity of the projectile, reduced due to the short barrel, will not affect the effectiveness of hitting targets," sources reported in 2021, when the creation of prototypes was just beginning.
The second and third vehicles are equipped with remotely controlled PKTM tank machine guns, RPO-2 "Bumblebee" and "Bumblebee-M" flamethrowers, as well as a set of protection against shaped projectiles. The third vehicle of the complex is armed with a combat module of two 30 mm automatic guns. As for the fourth robot, its striking force is a block of thermobaric charges from the heavy flamethrower system "Solntsepek".
The protection system also deserves attention. Tests have shown that the Sturm is able to maintain combat capability both after detonating a mine and as a result of 15 hits from a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher (RPG) or rocket-propelled anti-tank grenades. This is especially important in urban combat, where one of the main enemies of any armored vehicle is an RPG, which is more effective in a confined space than anti-tank guided missiles, which are used more often in open areas.
The control system and the "subordination" of robots on the battlefield are also interesting. Four vehicles make up a robotic tank group. At the same time, the command robot is able to control the work of the other three at a distance of about three kilometers.
Groups of autonomous "Assaults" make up a robotic platoon, acting similarly to a conventional tank platoon. Each machine of the group, controlled by an operator, has its own navigation tools, a "friend-foe" type system and can operate relatively autonomously.
The Sturm robotic complexes are primarily designed for fighting in urban areas. As Konstantin Sivkov, a full member of the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, noted, "the meaning of the complex is that a robot that goes ahead of linear tanks becomes the first object of an enemy strike. For him, it is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish a robot from a linear tank.
This means that the survival rate of tank personnel increases dramatically. During urban battles, assault robots will help to avoid additional casualties."
According to the expert, the first of the four vehicles of the complex, equipped with a cannon, can and should "disassemble" defensive and defensive structures. The fire support robot "also follows ahead of linear tanks, solves the tasks of destroying enemy personnel and their anti-tank weapons, including in shelters."
The timing of the adoption of robot tanks into service has not yet been announced. Various assumptions are also made regarding the options for their implementation in the construction of domestic armored vehicles. For example, a military expert, reserve colonel Viktor Murakhovsky, announced the possible creation of special robotic units, in the ranks of which such complexes as Sturm would be much easier to integrate into combat formations, and therefore begin to be used to perform specific tasks during military operations.
One thing is for sure – soon heavy robot tanks will be tested not at the test site, but in real combat conditions. "After practical testing, the samples will be sent to the area of the SVO," the Ministry of Defense reports.
Alexander Gulin
