Moscow, Russia – The Russian state corporation Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) has unveiled new tanks, the TSHRK “Shturm”, based on the T-72 tank chassis. A video of the equipment was shared on social media by military observer Andrei_bt, showing details of the system in action.
The platform includes a remotely controlled combat vehicle with the option for manual crew control, in addition to a command vehicle also based on the chassis of a T-72 or T-90. The system represents yet another attempt by Russia to advance the robotization of heavy vehicles for urban combat and high-risk operations.
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Development and Specifications
The existence of the project was confirmed back in 2018, when UVZ’s general director, Alexander Potapov, stated during the ADEX fair that the complex was being developed under a direct order from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
At the time, sources linked to the ministry revealed that the project, named “Assault”, already had a functional mock-up capable of demonstrating the vehicle’s basic movements. Among the main requirements defined by the government was ultra-reinforced protection from all angles, capable of withstanding direct impacts from up to 15 handheld anti-tank grenades and mine explosions.
The project envisions the development of four vehicle variants, each with distinct armaments:
- A main tank weighing up to 50 tons with a 125 mm gun (D-414 model) featuring a shortened barrel and an automatic loader for 22 rounds. There are also plans for a version with a 152 mm gun.
- A vehicle equipped with RPO-2 Shmel rocket launchers and a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun.
- A variant with a dual combat module containing two 30 mm 2A42 automatic cannons, a 7.62 mm PKTM, and RPO-2 “Shmel”.
- A vehicle with 220 mm MO.1.01.04M unguided thermobaric rocket launchers, similar to those used in the TOS-1A system.
The remote control station will also be mounted on the T-72B3 chassis, with protection against handheld anti-tank weapons. Each unit is expected to control up to a platoon of vehicles within a 3 km radius, with a maximum estimated speed of 40 km/h under remote control.
It is still unclear to what extent the TSHRK “Shturm” is operational or whether the system will be widely adopted by the Russian Armed Forces. However, given the demands of the modern battlefield, the global trend toward military robotization and the use of unmanned ground platforms is expected to continue growing.
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Source and images: Telegram @btvt2019. militarnyi. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
