Russia appears to have put a Soviet-era tank chassis back to work, this time with a robotic twist.
The country is reportedly field-testing the Shturm, an unmanned ground vehicle built for remote operations in an urban environment.
Developed by Uralvagonzavod for the Russian Ministry of Defense, the system features a combat vehicle and a mobile command unit, both built on reworked T-72 or T-90 tank hulls.
Footage shared by Russian military observer Andrei_bt shows the combat variant operating with a crew on board, though it is designed for optional remote control.
The vehicle mounts a shortened 125mm D-414 main gun for better maneuverability in tight spaces, along with frontal dynamic armor, a bulldozer blade, and a slightly modified turret.
The command vehicle, also tracked, can control a platoon of robotic tanks within a 3-kilometer (1.9-mile) radius and is armored against rocket-propelled grenades and other anti-tank threats.
Shturm’s appearance reflects Moscow’s ongoing push to repurpose legacy platforms for modern battlefield roles.
Firepower in Four Flavors
Originally unveiled in 2018, the Shturm is designed for breaching fortified positions and handling high-risk missions in dense terrain. Its combat variant comes in four distinct configurations.
One version features a 50-ton main assault vehicle armed with a 125mm gun, with a 152mm upgrade reportedly in development.
Another pairs RPO-2 “Shmel” thermobaric rocket launchers with a PKTM machine gun, while a third mounts twin 30mm 2A42 automatic cannons alongside the same secondary weapons.
The fourth version is configured as a heavy rocket platform, carrying 16 unguided 220mm thermobaric rockets.
Remote Operation Still Unclear
The presence of both combat and command variants in recent footage signals that Shturm has moved into advanced testing, following years of development.
Unlike earlier platforms such as Uran-9, the Shturm appears to be built on a more cohesive architecture aimed at greater battlefield utility.
Still, the extent of its remote capabilities remains uncertain.
One prototype was observed operating with a crew onboard, casting doubt on whether the system is fully unmanned in its current form.
