The Russian defense industry develops and tests new robotic systems of various types and for various purposes. Based on the test results, the new equipment is sent for revision or receives a recommendation for adoption. With positive results this year, the necessary checks of the Nerekhta complex were completed, which now has to enter service and go to the troops.
On October 30, the Interfax news agency published several interesting statements by Colonel Oleg Pomazuev, head of the innovative research department of the Main Directorate of Research Activities of the Ministry of Defense. The representative of the military department spoke about the current work in the field of military robotic systems, and also announced the news of the promising project "Nerekhta". According to him, the product of the latter type has successfully coped with the tests and should now go to the troops.
Complex "Nerekhta": artillery reconnaissance vehicle and combat vehicle. Photo Defense.ru
Colonel O. Pomazuev said that in the summer of this year, a number of new types of combat robots were tested at the Alabino training ground near Moscow. One of the participants in these events was the Nerekhta complex. A special track was prepared at the test site, on which the presented samples could demonstrate their capabilities in the field of mobility, overcoming obstacles, including water. In addition, at the training ground, the robots used standard weapons and showed their fighting qualities.
As reported before the start of the tests, after such events scheduled for July this year, the Ministry of Defense had to study the real capabilities of promising technology and make its decision. According to the test results, promising robotic systems could enter service. According to previous official statements, it was planned to test the Nerekhta, Soratnik and Uran-9 systems at the Alabino test site.
In general, "Nerekhta" and other modern samples have shown themselves well in recent tests. The head of the department for innovative research also noted that in a number of indicators, compact robotic systems are superior to the existing manned combat vehicles in service with the ground forces. The main result of the comparative tests will be the adoption of the Nerekhta complex. The corresponding order will appear shortly.
O. Pomazuev claims that the Nerekhta robotic complex will be used by the troops in its current form. The armed forces receive new systems of this kind, designed to solve certain problems. The robots are designed for reconnaissance, explosive disposal, extinguishing fires, etc. In the foreseeable future, such a technique is supposed to be entrusted with conducting assaults or strike operations. One of the means for such work, apparently, will be the Nerekhta complex.
A representative of the Ministry of Defense noted the positive results of the recent tests of "Nerekhta", and also announced the imminent adoption of this complex into service. At the same time, he did not specify the timing of the appearance of the corresponding order, and also did not announce the start time of serial production and deliveries of finished equipment. The number of robots planned for the order has not been named either. It is known that the "Nerekhta" complex may include vehicles for various purposes, but this aspect was left without comment. Nevertheless, even without such details, the latest news in the context of the development of robotic means looks extremely interesting.
The project of the multipurpose combat robotic complex "Nerekhta" is a joint development of the Plant. Degtyarev (Kovrov) and the Advanced Research Fund. The goal of the project was to create a universal remotely controlled tracked platform with a set of replaceable modules for various purposes. With the help of such technology, it was proposed to carry out reconnaissance, transport small loads or attack the enemy. Work on the new project started back in 2013, and soon the general public became aware of its existence.
In the spring of 2015, data on the general appearance of a promising robot was published. In addition, then the need for testing and fine-tuning of equipment with the parallel development of some new components and assemblies was indicated. In mid-autumn of the same year, the modified prototypes of the complex were demonstrated as part of the Defense Ministry's Innovation Day exhibition. Visitors to the event were shown two prototypes at once, which received equipment of different types.
The Nerekhta complex, according to official data, consists of several main components. The first is the remote control. It includes devices for monitoring the operation of systems, radio equipment, a monitor for outputting a video signal, etc. The remote control is small in size, which allows it to be carried by the operator or transported on any available transport.
Prototype combat "Nerekhta". Photo Arms-expo.ru
The main element of the robot is a universal platform on a tracked chassis. It is a compact armored vehicle with its own power plant, transmission and chassis, equipped with communication and control devices. The body with a reduced cross-section, which reduces the visibility of the robot, can be protected by class 5. Mounts are provided at the top of the chassis for mounting customer-specific target equipment. Around the perimeter of the car, video cameras are installed, designed for driving and monitoring the surrounding space.
A hybrid power plant is located inside the body, allowing the use of an internal combustion engine or an electric motor for propulsion. There is a tracked undercarriage with four road wheels on an individual suspension, located on each side. The lantern drive wheels are in the front of the hull, the guides are in the stern.
The simplest modification of the Nerekhta robot is the transport one. In this case, a loading platform and some other equipment are installed on the universal platform. In particular, it is possible to use a winch or a remote-controlled loader crane. In this configuration, the machine can transport goods, independently loading them, and also solve other auxiliary tasks.
For obvious reasons, the most famous is the combat version of the "Nerekhta". Such a robot is equipped with a remotely controlled combat module. The latter is a platform with its own guidance drives and a set of required equipment. The module can be equipped with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, a large-caliber KORD or an AG-30M automatic grenade launcher. Earlier it was argued that a new machine gun could be developed specifically for the robotic complex. The possibility of equipping Nerekhta with a missile system was also mentioned.
A block of optical-electronic equipment is installed on one swinging device with a weapon. To search for targets, the operator is offered to use "traditional" means in the form of a video camera, thermal imager and laser rangefinder. Data from these devices are transmitted by radio to the operator's console. Onboard devices provide firing of targets in any direction horizontally with elevation angles from -20 ° to + 60 °.
Also within the framework of the "Nerekhta" project was proposed the so-called. artillery reconnaissance module. In this case, a large protected unit with advanced optical-electronic means is installed on the tracked platform. During observation, the optics can be extended upward using the existing telescopic mast. With such equipment, the robot is able to observe objects at ranges of up to 5 km during the day or 4 km at night. The data on the detected targets can be transferred to various consumers.
The curb weight of the platform without special equipment reaches 1 ton. Carrying capacity - 500 kg. The chassis can reach speeds of up to 30-32 km / h. The working radius is limited by the characteristics of the communication systems. According to published data, the machine can only move 3 km away from the operator.
Previously, the industry demonstrated the capabilities of the latest robotic complex. During such a demonstration, a group of robots "Nerekhta" with different equipment jointly attacked a simulated enemy. At the same time, the vehicle with the artillery reconnaissance module timely detected the target and issued target designation to the robot with the combat module. By the joint efforts of the two vehicles, the conditional enemy was detected, fired upon and destroyed.
Information poster describing the Nerekhta project. Photo Twower.livejournal.com
Already during the first public demonstration, the authors of the Nerekhta project spoke about their plans and further work. It was argued that in the very near future the robotic complex will go for testing, during which it will have to show all its capabilities and interest the customer. At the same time, at that time there were certain difficulties of a specific nature.
In early 2016, there were reports in the press about the imminent start of testing robots in the interests of the Ministry of Defense. Unnamed media sources claimed that some difficulties faced the developers of the project and the potential customer. A promising model was required to fit into the existing structure of ground forces, as a result of which the desired results could be obtained. Such works, as noted, were associated with certain difficulties.
According to later reports, the Nerekhta robotic complex was taken to the test site for the necessary checks. A few months ago - after the completion of part of the tests - it was announced that new tests would start soon. Joint tests of several pieces of equipment were planned for the summer. Now robots had to not only show their best side, but also compete with other equipment. According to the announced plans, after comparative tests, the military was going to decide the issue of adopting equipment for service.
As the head of the Department of Innovative Research of the Main Directorate of Research Activities rightly noted, at present, the bulk of new robots for the army are designed to solve auxiliary tasks. Nevertheless, the situation is gradually changing, and in the near future the armed forces will receive promising remotely controlled equipment with their own weapons. The availability of modular systems for various purposes will further increase the potential of the Nerekhta robotic complex in the context of expanding the capabilities of the troops.
After several years of development work, testing and development, one of the first domestic combat robots was able to reach the stage of adoption. The direction of robotic systems is not only developing, but also giving real results, contributing to the rearmament and modernization of the army.
