Defective combat UGV enters service with Russian army
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The Uran-9 combat unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), that failed trials in Syria, has quietly entered military service, according to Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency.
In a recent interview Kalashnikov boss, Vladimir
“We are currently completing the production of the first series lot,” also he told Russian journalists. “The Uran have a good scientific and technological potential for developing further products.”
Russian troops tested Uran-9s in Syria, and according to Dmitriev, the experience helped find new ways of improving the drone before starting mass production.
An early, Russian source claimed, noting that industry is now working to increase the Uran-9’s range, response time, and data bandwidth.
As it turns out, rumors of its effectiveness have been greatly exaggerated.
In June 2018, a classified report of the Senior Research Officer, the 3rd Central Research Institute of the Russian Defense Ministry has leaked to the Internet and showed details of horribly Uran-9’s trials results in Syria.
According to a leaked report, Russian high-tech combat UGV tank couldn’t operate as far away from its controllers as expected, had problems firing its 30mm gun, and couldn’t fire while moving, amid other problems.
Uran-9 lost contact with the control station 19 times–17 times for a minute or less, and at least in one case up to 1.5 hours. The problem was exacerbated in urban fighting centers with buildings blocking the radio signal.
The remote fire control system is also a problem, with the 2A72 experiencing a lag before firing six times and an outright failure once. Another problem with the Uran is that the armament, optics, and sensors aren’t stabilized for firing on the move, requiring the vehicle to stop first.
According to the Russian military, Uran-9’s combat experience in Syria revealed serious problems.
It is worth noting that after failed trials in Syria, Uran-9 did not pass state tests.