As of: March 8, 2024, 2:56 p.m
By: Michael Kister
Comments
Press
Split
The unmanned Ukrainian weapons platform Phantom-2 on June 5, 2018 at an exhibition in Kiev.
(Archive image) © IMAGO / Pond5 Images / Dmitriy Tolmachov
Ukraine is developing a remote-controlled combat robot.
It promises firepower without endangering life.
Nevertheless, his pilot still has to be close.
Kiev - The Ukrainians are developing the Phantom-2, an unmanned tank that can be controlled by radio from up to 20 kilometers away.
It is a good four meters long, almost two meters wide and just over a meter high, with the superstructure still included.
In particular, it is intended to provide them with heavy fire support.
For this purpose, the vehicle is equipped with a weapons station that can be equipped with various systems, including a twin machine cannon and various anti-tank guided missiles.
The Phantom-2 can also take on Russian tanks.
The Ukrainian engineers also recycled an old weapon: Soviet attack helicopters carried B-8V20A launchers that fired 20 small, unguided rockets.
The state-owned arms company Ukroboronprom is now putting these systems on its new combat robots next to the weapons station.
With a range of two to four and a half kilometers, they are intended to provide artillery support to the soldiers at the front.
Ukraine is developing unmanned combat robots - and using them against Russia
Various application situations are possible.
On the one hand, Phantom-2 is suitable for advancing through dangerous terrain that may be mined and could be taken under fire by the enemy in order to evacuate wounded soldiers.
On the other hand, the vehicle's firepower will be able to spearhead an attack like a normal tank, followed by infantry and other manned vehicles - without endangering lives if it is shot down.
Phantom 2 |
|
Weapon type: |
Remotely controlled weapon platform without a crew |
Manufacturer: |
State defense company Ukroboronprom |
Chassis: |
8x8 (four axles), chains possible |
Speed: |
58 km/h |
Armament: |
12.7mm machine gun; 23mm twin autocannon; B-8V20A multiple rocket launcher; “Barrier”, “Stugna-P” and “Corsair” anti-tank missiles; 60 and 120 mm mortars. |
Remote control range: |
20 kilometers via radio |
Dimensions: |
4.2 x 1.84 x 1.2 meters |
Ukraine has already used several remote-controlled vehicles to defend itself against Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin's troops.
The mine-clearing robot Bozena 5, made in Slovakia, is particularly useful to her. It can be controlled from a distance of five kilometers and uses a roller to detonate mines in its path.
The Estonian Themis can also clear mines and evacuate the wounded.
With the four-wheeled D-21-11, Ukraine is also developing another remote-controlled combat robot, which, however, is said to be significantly smaller than Phantom-2.
Ukraine claims to have already successfully tested similar unmanned mini-tanks at the front, such as the “Fury” machine gun kart and the “Ratel S” kamikaze bomb buggy.
Russia and the USA are also developing unmanned combat robots for ground warfare
In the Ukraine war, the Russians are also relying on unmanned combat vehicles that they control from a distance: In February 2023, Dmitri Rogozin, a former deputy prime minister of Russia, claimed that “marker” combat robots that specialize in this would be sent to Ukraine that same month to take out NATO tanks like the German Leopard 2.
So far, however, they have had no visible influence on the fighting.
My news
To defend against Russia: NATO opens old Soviet air base in Albaniaread
2 hours ago
For additional fees: Now even Habeck wants pensioners to work longer
“Why do they have such hatred?” Russian medic makes serious allegations against Ukraineread
“Active defense”: Ukraine prepares for major Russian offensive read aloud
2 hours ago
Strack-Zimmermann continues to oppose Scholz at Taurus - now Baerbock is also making people sit up and take notice
“It only came after the leaks”: On ZDF, Masala reveals a crucial detail in Scholz’s Taurus rejection reading
As part of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program, the USA, which set new standards for airspace with the Predator and Reaper drones, also wants to procure unmanned ground combat vehicles for its army.
They will shortly place the first orders for this with suppliers.
Similar objectives are being pursued in the development of the “Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle” (OMFV).
The US Army wants a new armored personnel carrier that can be controlled remotely to act as a kind of shield while crew and soldiers get out and follow.
Reports of aerial drone attacks by both sides on targets in Ukraine and Russia are now commonplace.
This, together with the recent spectacular successes of the Ukrainian V5 Magura naval drones against the Russian Black Sea Fleet, shows how groundbreaking the remote-controlled weapons of the Ukraine war will be for future warfare.