Russia used Uran-9 and Nerekhta Unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in the regular ranks of formations for the first time during the Zapad-2021 drills. The unmanned combat ground vehicles engaged in combat action directly inside the formation of defending units, eliminating the mock enemy’s troops and vehicles at distance of 3,000 to 5,000 meters, using the Ataka missile launchers, rocket-propelled flamethrowers, 30-mm autocannons and machineguns. The robots also covered infantry units during relocation.
Nerekhta Unmanned Combat Ground Vehicle (UCGV) was created by the Degtyaryov plant together with the Foundation for Advanced Studies of the Russian Federation as an universal transport platform for the lgistic and work for 14 other specialties. These robots are armed with a 12.7-mm Kord machinegun and a 30-mm AG-30M grenade launcher. Remote control the robot can be from the vehicle at distances of up to 20 kilometers, and if used mast, or run from a natural elevation, the distance can be significantly increased.
A version of the Uran-9, the Uran-6 was used for clearing paths in minefields in cooperation with engineering units. The Uran-9 is a tracked unmanned combat ground vehicle (UCGV) developed and produced by JSC 766 UPTK (currently by Kalashnikov Concern), and promoted and offered by Rosoboronexport for the international market. The robots were supported by a Karyer laser tactical system, capable of detecting and suppressing optical reconnaissance and observation equipment of tanks, armored vehicles and infantry firearms.
