The All-Russian Research Institute "Signal" is testing the "Prometheus" complex, which allows robotic armored vehicles. This was reported by the High-Precision Complexes holding company, which includes VNII.

“Vysokotochka VNII Signal has completed the development of the robotic complex for the Prometheus infantry fighting vehicle, and it is now undergoing a full cycle of tests,” the holding’s Telegram channel says.

It is clarified that the Prometheus software and hardware complex (SHC) can be installed on any existing serial model of military equipment.

“For example, on the BMP-3. It allows you to robotize the functions of the driver and gunner, preserves the ergonomics of the regular seats of the crew members and makes it possible to control the vehicle both in crew and remote mode,” the holding stated.

The press service of the enterprise added that such a robotic vehicle can be equipped with any combat module and is capable of transporting units of motorized rifle troops, as well as conducting combat and fire support for landing forces, including from afloat.  

The industrial director of the cluster of conventional weapons, ammunition and special chemicals of the Rostec state corporation, Bekhan Ozdoev, spoke about the creation of Prometheus in the summer of 2023. According to him, the complex is controlled using a remote control. At the same time, the regular positions of the crew members are preserved, and minor modifications to the combat vehicles for installing the PAK are required.

A representative of the state corporation noted that the project is developing towards increasing autonomy - in the future, the combat vehicle will be able to move along given coordinates without the participation of an operator, reaching the required point, determine the best route, avoid obstacles and quickly process information using technical vision.

“If you combine Prometheus with advanced fire control systems, you will get a real Terminator,” Ozdoev said in an interview with TASS.

  • Roboticized armored vehicle "Udar" by specialists of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute "Signal"

  • © JSC “VNII “Signal”

He also expressed confidence that such systems will become widespread in the future.

“Remote control - be it air systems, sea or land - is the future. I am sure that a little time will pass and this technique will become widespread. After all, it can solve problems on the front line without putting the lives of soldiers at risk,” Ozdoev emphasized.

It is worth noting that Prometheus can be installed not only on combat vehicles, but also on other special equipment that requires remote control. Thus, according to Rostec, this PAK is equipped with the MGR-4 Shmel remote-controlled humanitarian demining vehicle, developed on the basis of the ANT 1000 mini-loader.

The main goal of the developers when creating this device was to eliminate human participation in mine clearance work. For this reason, the car initially lacks a cabin and all manual control systems.

"Strike" and "Passage-1"

The work of specialists from the All-Russian Research Institute Signal to create robotic systems based on existing models of armored vehicles was previously reported. One of these projects was called “Strike”. This multifunctional robotic complex was created on the basis of the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle. It was first shown to the general public at the end of 2015 at the Ministry of Defense Innovation Day exhibition.

Rostec materials say that the Udar is equipped with a combat module with a 30 mm cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun and Kornet anti-tank guided missile launchers. The complex, in addition to the robot itself, may include a reconnaissance drone, a mobile control point and a portable control panel.

The developers called the main advantage of “Udar” its versatility. In particular, it can be used not only for combat operations, but also for reconnaissance, evacuation of soldiers from the battlefield and delivery of goods. 

The Signal Research Institute also created the Prokhod-1 robotic demining complex based on the T-90 tank. It is designed to create passages in minefields. 

“Passage-1” consists of a remote-controlled armored mine clearance vehicle, a remote control point and a set of portable control panels. The complex is armed with a 6P49 Kord anti-aircraft machine gun and a 902B smoke screen system.

As in the case of Prometheus and Impact, Prohod-1 can operate under crew control, remote control, or go into autonomous (programmed) mode.

  • Robotic demining complex "Prohod-1"

  • © © JSC NPO High Precision Complexes

Uralvagonzavod is also conducting developments in this area. In 2018, the media reported that the company was creating a heavy-class attack robot “Sturm” based on the T-72 tank. The Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Oleg Salyukov, also spoke about working on a project with this name in 2019.

In March 2022, RIA Novosti, citing a source in the military-industrial complex, reported the imminent start of testing of the Sturm. It is assumed that the device will consist of several machines: a mobile control center, a heavy robot with a 125-mm smooth-bore shortened gun, a robot with Bumblebee flamethrowers, twin 30-mm automatic cannons and a block of 220-mm thermobaric unguided rockets. All vehicles are created on the basis of the T-72BZ.

“The troops need such systems”

As analysts note, robotization may be useful for reusing obsolete armored vehicles, which are stored in large quantities in warehouses.

“Old armored vehicles are rather poorly protected; they were created to meet outdated requirements. No matter how much armor you put on them, you still won’t be able to protect it properly. In this situation, robotization is precisely what is needed, which allows you to remotely control such a machine. Such a decision would make it possible to reduce personnel losses,” said Sergei Denisentsev, an expert at the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, in an interview with RT.

  • Tank T-72

  • RIA News

  • © Evgeny Epanchintsev

According to him, such robotic systems are in demand among the troops. “The development of robotic kits for old weapon systems is a fairly current topic. There are a lot of people doing this. It’s obvious that the troops need such systems,” Denisentsev said.

At the same time, experts state that at the moment, remotely controlled armored vehicles, unlike UAVs and naval drones, are little used in the combat zone. As explained by Vyacheslav Pshikhopov, director of the Research Institute of Robotics and Control Processes at the Southern Federal University, one of the reasons is the small range of such systems.

“Remotely controlled vehicles operate at a line-of-sight distance. As long as you can see this car, you can drive it. The UAV rises into the air where there are no obstacles to radio waves, so the operator can communicate with it at a distance of many kilometers. It’s the same with maritime drones,” the analyst said in a conversation with RT.

At the same time, when demining, where a large range of action is not required, unmanned vehicles are already used in the RF Armed Forces. “Uran engineering vehicles and other similar mine clearance equipment operate remotely and are used by the troops,” the expert said.

Another weak point of remotely controlled vehicles is their vulnerability to electronic warfare (EW), Pshikhopov added.

“The enemy’s electronic warfare systems are operating on the front line and all communication channels are being suppressed. Because of this, the car may become uncontrollable and stop,” the analyst believes.

In his opinion, in these conditions, developers should move towards creating autonomous robotic machines that can work without operator commands.

“Today there is a demand for an autonomous system that does not require operator control. Such a machine makes all decisions itself. Autonomous systems are the future. Future wars are wars of unmanned autonomous systems,” summed up Vyacheslav Pshikhopov.