Russian military channels shared a video of a UGV for fire support, fitted with a Bagulnik-82 82 mm mortar with a robotic arm for automated reloading.
After multiple instances of UGVs in Ukraine from both sides fitted with machine guns or grenade launchers, a UGV with a Bagulnik-82 82 mm mortar system providing longer range and more meaningful firepower has made its appearance. The UGV used as the platform for Bagulnik-82 is the Kurier medium-class UGV which has been introduced recently.
Bagulnik-82 uses a robotic arm that picks and loads the ammunition without human intervention for reloading. The mortar is also fitted with recoil dampeners to improve stability, especially on light platforms. 82 mm mortars can reach a range of about four kilometres with standard HE ammunition.
Beyond the range value, indirect fire leaves little room for cover. In addition to this, employment of UAVs to provide location and, by extension, range has greatly improved the accuracy of short-range indirect fire weaponry during the war in Ukraine.
Other heavy weaponry proposed for UGVs to provide fire support over the recent years include unguided/guided rockets and even anti-tank missiles.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
