Russia has taken a bold step into the future of warfare by field-testing the Shturm robot tank, an unmanned ground vehicle that breathes new life into the chassis of Soviet-era tanks. Built on the sturdy foundations of the T-72 or T-90, this innovative system reflects Moscow’s determination to adapt its ageing military hardware for the demands of modern battlefields, particularly in the chaotic and confined spaces of urban environments.
Developed by Uralvagonzavod under commission from the Russian Ministry of Defence, the Shturm combines a combat vehicle with a mobile command unit, offering a glimpse of how robotics could reshape the way wars are fought. Yet, as recent footage reveals, this system is not entirely free of human hands, prompting curiosity about its readiness and potential.
The Shturm first emerged on the public stage in 2018, when the Russian publication RBC reported on its development, citing sources within the Ministry of Defence. Uralvagonzavod, a powerhouse in tank manufacturing, was tasked with creating a heavy assault robotic complex based on the T-72B3 chassis. Known by its project name “Shturm,” this system was envisioned as a tool for breaching fortified positions and tackling high-risk missions in dense terrain, where traditional manned vehicles often falter.
By August 2018, a prototype had already been crafted, capable of basic movement and equipped with combat gear tailored for urban combat. Now, years later, the appearance of both combat and command variants in field tests marks a clear progression from those early stages, suggesting that the Shturm is edging closer to operational reality. At its core, the Shturm is designed to excel in cityscapes, where narrow streets, rubble, and hidden threats test the limits of conventional tanks.
The combat vehicle is fitted with a shortened 125mm D-414 main gun, a clever tweak that trims the barrel to 4,000mm for better handling in tight spaces. This shorter barrel, paired with an automatic loader holding 22 rounds, ensures the vehicle can still pack a punch without sacrificing agility. The hull boasts frontal dynamic armour to fend off anti-tank weapons, while a bulldozer blade clears obstacles like debris or barricades. The turret, slightly modified from its T-72 or T-90 origins, retains full 360-degree rotation, a vital feature for engaging threats in all directions amid the clutter of urban warfare.
The command vehicle, equally rooted in the T-72 or T-90 chassis, plays a pivotal role in the Shturm’s operation. Armoured against rocket-propelled grenades and other anti-tank threats, it can direct a platoon of robotic tanks within a 3-kilometre radius—roughly 1.9 miles—keeping human operators at a safer distance from the fray. This tandem setup hints at a future where crews could orchestrate assaults remotely, reducing the risks to soldiers in perilous zones. However, recent footage shared by Russian military observer Andrei_bt shows the combat variant moving with a crew onboard, a detail that muddies the waters.
While the Shturm is designed for optional remote control, this suggests its unmanned capabilities are not yet fully realised, and human oversight remains part of the equation for now. What sets the Shturm apart is its versatility, embodied in four distinct configurations of the combat vehicle, each armed differently to suit various battlefield needs. The first is a 50-ton main assault vehicle, wielding the shortened 125mm D-414 gun with plans for a future upgrade to a heftier 152mm version, promising even greater destructive power.
The second configuration swaps the cannon for launch blocks of RPO-2 “Shmel” rocket flamethrowers, thermobaric weapons ideal for flushing out enemies in bunkers or buildings, complemented by a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun for close-range defence. The third variant brings twin 30mm 2A42 automatic cannons, carrying up to 1,000 rounds, alongside the PKTM machine gun and additional “Shmel” rocket flamethrowers, offering a blend of rapid fire and explosive impact. Finally, the fourth version transforms the Shturm into a heavy rocket platform, armed with 16 unguided 220mm MO.1.01.04M thermobaric rockets—akin to those on the TOS-1A heavy flamethrower system—capable of unleashing devastating barrages over wide areas.
Together, these options paint the Shturm as a multi-role machine, adaptable to everything from precision strikes to overwhelming assaults. The road to this point has not been without precedent. Russia has dabbled in heavy assault robotic systems before, most notably with the Uran-9, which saw action in Syria and later in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion. Those earlier efforts, however, stumbled—plagued by spotty performance and operational hiccups that limited their impact. The Shturm seems to draw from those lessons, built on a more unified and robust framework. By repurposing the T-72 and T-90 hulls, it leans on proven technology, sidestepping the need to design a vehicle from scratch. This pragmatic approach not only cuts costs but also speeds up integration, as mechanics and crews already know these platforms inside out.
The field tests captured in Andrei_bt’s footage, showing both the combat and command vehicles in action, signal that the Shturm has moved beyond isolated experiments into a more cohesive testing phase. The combat vehicle trundles along under its own power, its crew visible inside, while the command unit presumably coordinates from nearby. This joint operation is a milestone, proving the system can function as intended—at least in part. Yet the presence of that onboard crew raises questions. Is the remote control system not yet reliable? Are there technical kinks, like signal disruptions or sensor limitations, that demand human intervention? Urban settings, with their maze-like layouts and potential for interference, are notoriously tricky for unmanned vehicles, and the Shturm’s development team may still be ironing out these challenges.
For Russia, the stakes are high. Urban combat, as seen in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, has exposed the vulnerabilities of traditional forces, with heavy losses driving interest in robotics. The Shturm could be a game-changer, allowing commanders to send a formidable machine into the thick of battle while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way. Its reliance on legacy platforms is a clever workaround, stretching the life of existing assets without breaking the bank. If it works, the Shturm might not only bolster Russia’s arsenal but also set a template for other nations looking to modernise on a budget. Still, uncertainties linger.
The crewed prototype suggests the Shturm is not fully unmanned in its current form, and the extent of its remote capabilities remains unclear. Can it navigate a city under fire without a human hand? Will it hold up against the anti-tank weapons it’s built to resist? These are the tests it must pass in the months ahead. If Uralvagonzavod and the Ministry of Defence can refine the system—perfecting its autonomy and proving its mettle—it could become a cornerstone of Russia’s military strategy, especially in the brutal grind of urban warfare. For now, the Shturm stands as a promising work in progress.
It marries the rugged reliability of Soviet-era tanks with the cutting-edge allure of robotics, a fusion that could redefine how Russia approaches the battlefield. As field tests continue, the world watches to see if this reborn war machine can deliver on its potential or if, like the Uran-9 before it, it will falter under the pressures of real combat. Either way, the Shturm is a clear sign that Russia is not standing still, pushing forward with tools that might one day take the human element out of war’s deadliest corners.
