The Kalashnikov Corporation, the producer of the famous Kalashnikov assault rifle and a subsidiary of Russia’s state hi-tech corporation Rostec, is developing an advanced reconnaissance and attack system , the BAS-01G BM Soratnik unmanned combat ground vehicles. It became known that the Soratnik Unmanned Combat Ground Vehicle (UCGV) was tested in conditions that were as close as possible to combat. It is reported that the tests took place in Syria. The air temperature was extremely hot. Soratnik UCGV was tested in conditions as close as possible to combat. These tests confirmed the characteristics of the complex and proved the possibility of using this robotic system at an air temperature above 30 degrees Celsius.
The armored tracked vehicle Soratnik is designed for reconnaissance, retransmission, patrolling and guarding of territories and important facilities and demining. Soratnik operates in three modes of control, the weight of the UCGV does not exceed 7 tons, it can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h. With remote control and line of sight, the range of the vehicle is up to 10 km.
On the tracked platform can be integrated guns of caliber of 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm, as well as an AG-17A automatic grenade launcher of the caliber of 30 mm. The weapon station is equipped with gyroscopic stabilization of weapons and is able to independently detect, track and destroy targets, determining their type. In addition, it is possible to install eight anti-tank guided missiles of the type Kornet-EM on the Soratnik. The UCGV can also work in conjunction with drone.
BAS-01G BM Soratnik is a small squad-level tactical UCGV intended for limited support of troops on the battlefield, as it is basically armed with small arms and light weapons (SALW). However, the vehicle demonstrates the latest achievements of Kalashnikov in the area of unmanned vehicles. In 2015-2016, the company acquired ZALA Aero, one of the most prominent UAVs manufacturers in Russia and the Rybinsk Shipyard, a builder of fast attack craft (FAC). Therefore, Soratnik is believed to be one more element of the aforementioned combat system being designed by the company. Russia’s military is reported to have shown interest in the BAS-01G BM Soratnik unmanned robotic platform.
