While most military analysts are focusing on the latest family of ground vehicles being fielded by Russia, the country has quietly continued to test and explore the use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) on the battlefield of the future. Defense Technology reports that a new system was recently seen in an exercise near Kursk at the the Defense Ministry’s “Days of Innovation” event, back in May. In WWII, Kursk was the scene of the largest tank-on-tank battle in recorded history.

According to Defense Technology, “whilst no details were offered, the UGV appears to be diminutive in size, with approximate dimensions of 1.8-2.0m long, 1.2m wide and 1.5m in overall height. Its rubber band tracks would reduce weight and noise whilst still providing excellent all-terrain mobility, agility in confined spaces and the ability to overcome man-made terrain and obstacles that would hinder movement of similar-size wheeled vehicles.

Given its apparent slab-sided/bolt-together external construction, the UGV may have a modicum of armour protection to shield vital system components against small arms fire, thereby prolonging battlefield survivability and mission duration.” The Uran-9 reportedly combines the hitting power of a Kurganets-25 infantry fighting vehicles atop a BMP-3 chassis.