Russia tests remote-controlled T‑72 tanks amid crew shortage
The Russians are experimenting with remote-controlled T-72 tanks, which may indicate a shortage of crews. Here's what they have developed.
3:12 PM EDT, October 25, 2024
A video has surfaced online of a Russian experiment with a remote-controlled T-72 tank, likely intended to serve as the spearhead of an assault when equipped with a mine plow. Due to the prevalence of mines in Ukraine, no offensive is possible without a vehicle creating a safe path through a minefield.
There are few specialized vehicles for this type of task, and tanks fitted with mine plows are well-suited for this function. However, it is worth noting that such machines are a priority target for the enemy, and their lifespan on the battlefield is exceptionally short. In the case of Russian machines, a single penetrating hit essentially guarantees a massive explosion.
It's no wonder that crews in some units are trying to find ways to survive. Moreover, such projects may also indicate that, paradoxically, Russia is starting to run out of tank operators, as they very rarely survive a tank hit.
One solution is the revival of the idea of tele-tanks from the 1930s, when the USSR experimented with radio-controlled tanks. The video below shows a new adaptation of this solution that can drive, shoot, and rotate its turret.
Robotic T-72 - Russian tele-tank 2.0
The Russian remote-controlled T-72 tank aligns with attempts to robotize old military equipment in other countries. For example, in the USA, obsolete M113 armored personnel carriers are widely used as a base for experiments with robotization.
In the case of the Russian design, it is possible to control the tank and fire from the main gun, thanks to an automatic loader. Interestingly, the Russians even made it possible to aim accurately, taking into account distance measurements to the target (most likely using a laser rangefinder). However, it should be noted that the duration of firing is limited to the capacity of the automatic loader, which holds 22 projectiles along with propellant charges.
Furthermore, communication with the control station is supposed to be facilitated through radio communication using a drone functioning as a relay or signal booster. This allows the operator to be at a greater distance from the tank's operating area, and according to the Russian presenting the system, this can be up to 62 miles. This claim is rather doubtful but theoretically possible.
