Russia’s War Robots: Attack, Spy Machines In Development By Arms Contractor

Kalashnikov Concern, Russia’s largest weapons manufacturer, has plans to develop a massive 20-ton attack and spy robot, intends to break into the increasingly popular drone market and even develop video games, the company’s top executive told TASS News Agency in a far-ranging interview published Tuesday.

CEO Aleksey Krivoruchko touched on his company’s plans to hit almost every part of the arms and technology sectors but also said an entire family of robots were in development and the progress would be unveiled later this year.

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“We are pushing ahead with this work and hope to show some of our achievements at the Army-2017," Krivoruchko said, referring to a military technology convention when asked about potential new robot projects. "I’m talking not about one vehicle but a whole family of reconnaissance and attack vehicles of different class that can operate as a team.”

After creating the Soratnik, an unmanned combat ground vehicle revealed in September, Krivoruchko was also asked if something even bigger was in the mix.

“Yes, research and development is in progress. It will be a 20-tonne reconnaissance and attack system. It’s up and running,” he said, though he did not go into further detail.

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The Soratnik had a range of nearly 250 miles. Loaded with a heavy machine gun and automatic grenade launcher, it could spot targets up to 1.5 miles away. The vehicle was created by Kalashnikov “for combat reconnaissance, fire support for soldiers on the battlefield, mine clearance, logistics operations, and patrolling,” a company spokesperson told IHS Janes in September.

Russia has long explored and recently made strong advancements in robot military technology like drones similar to the United States and China. In May, a Russian daily newspaper reported the military’s plans to build a so-called “Iron Man,” a fully autonomous robotic soldier that would replace a human soldier on more dangerous battlefields, according to Vice.