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Russia's Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed the first contract for a prototype of the Shturm (Project Storm) unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) system based on the T-72 main battle tank (MBT) at the Army 2021 defence exhibition being held in Kubinka from 22 to 28 August, the TASS news agency reported on 24 August.
![The Russian MoD has awarded Uralvagonzavod a contract for a prototype of the Shturm UGV system based on the T-72B3 MBT (pictured). (Russian MoD)](/images/default-source/news-images/bsp_4398-jdw-13760.jpg?sfvrsn=3ecc0a61_2)
The Russian MoD has awarded Uralvagonzavod a contract for a prototype of the Shturm UGV system based on the T-72B3 MBT (pictured). (Russian MoD)
Shturm is a concept based on four T-72B3 MBTs developed by Russia's third Central Scientific Research Institute and T-72 manufacturer Uralvagonzavod.
As originally envisaged, a system would consist of four T-72B3s modified for unmanned operations: one with a shortened D-414 125 mm smoothbore tank gun and a dozer blade, a second armed with RPO-2 Shmel-M thermobaric rocket launchers, a third with two 2A42 30 mm cannons, and a fourth carrying an armament similar to the TOS-1A heavy thermobaric multiple rocket launcher. The UGVs were expected to be controlled by an eight-strong team housed in a fifth vehicle also based on the T-72B3 MBT.
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