MOSCOW, July 30. /TASS/. Russia’s Systemprom Concern (subsidiary of the United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation) is developing a universal robotic platform that can transform into a combat robot, a demining vehicle machine or an electronic warfare system, Alexey Simulin, head of the company’s science and technology department, told TASS on Thursday. The vehicle’s testing will begin at the end of the year, he added.
"We are creating several systems. The first is a versatile robotic complex, which can carry different types of payloads. The complex will comprise many sub-systems for powering and controlling the payloads. This platform makes it possible to transform the vehicle into anything," said Simulin, who heads the project.
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According to him, by installing a combat module on the platform it will be possible to create a strike-reconnaissance vehicle, and installing electronic warfare systems on it will make a combat EW vehicle. A communications relay or a mine clearance system can also be mounted on the chassis.
The payload of the robotic platform can also use military modules with small arms, electronic warfare modules, and reconnaissance models with flying components. Systemprom reported previously it was developing its own automatic weapon station with heavy machine guns and grenade launchers and is also designing reconnaissance modules using aircraft. The latter can be installed on the platform alongside a combat unit. Their control system is completely separate from the management of the platform and connects to it as an additional unit.
Simulin said, referring to system mass and size, that depending on the type of design and armour, its weight can reach 7 tonnes, and the vehicle is capable of carrying of up to 2 tonnes of payload. "The vehicle’s length is about 3.5 metres, and width - less than 2 metres. It has been designed to be transported by an army truck or air dropped," he said.
"We are developing this complex on our own initiative. The internal tests will commence before the end of this year," said the company representative.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said previously that robotics would be one of the top priorities of the new Russian arms programme for the period from 2016 to 2025.