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Russia wants to test its killer combat robots in Ukraine [1]

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Date: 2023-01-27

This is NOT a Russian unmanned ground vehicle, but it's pretty damn cool.

Russia has a combat robot they recently announced would be sent to Ukraine for battlefield testing.

It isn’t exactly a cybernetic android or a liquid metal T-1000. It doesn’t look as menacing as Arnold Schwarzenegger with sunglasses and a sawed-off shotgun.

Hell, it isn’t even all that unique. Lots of other countries have them (drones are combat robots, for instance) or are developing them. It’s not even Russia’s first ground combat robot. They have another one called the Uran-9.

But Marker — you’d think they would come up with a better name — is apparently cooler ... or something. It’s more like a robot tank. It supposedly can operate autonomously, determine who is a friend or a foe or civilian or combatant, deploy aerial drones, fire its own weapons and deliver packages for Amazon.

OK, I’m not sure about that last one.

And I’m really skeptical about that telling-civilian-from-combatant part. Russia clearly doesn’t give a shit about that.

But it’s just recently finished testing at a facility in Russia where it was performing security guard duties, so naturally Russians — desperate to show that their country is still a relevant military power with all the bells and whistles — want to send it to Ukraine for battlefield testing and to kick some serious NATO ass, or at least be on TV saying they are going to teach those Americans a lesson.

Sounds formidable, even without overnight delivery, but like everything else with today’s Russian Army, it’s mostly smoke and mirrors.

"This type of UGV (unmanned ground vehicle) isn't ready to navigate on its own in a very complex battle space," Bendett said. "So, even though 'Marker' developers have claimed that these vehicles can go on their own and maybe complete a series of relatively complicated tasks, they aren't necessarily going to be ready for the very complicated environment of a Ukraine battle space." Such an environment will present counter-fire, interference and other factors disrupting communication between the "Marker" and its operator, he explained. Therefore, in these newly-announced tests, there is some ambiguity in precisely what conditions the "Marker" will be tested in. Bendett said the "Marker" was unlikely to push towards Ukrainian positions due to a few design features making the combat robot "vulnerable."

It’s basically a PR stunt.

"One of the interesting issues with developing vehicles like 'Marker' from scratch, as opposed to refitting already existing systems, is that 'Marker' is a relatively small and brittle system—it isn't necessarily very well protected," he said. Despite its touted advantages, the "Marker" is poorly equipped to deal with attacks from large-caliber machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, unlike the Russian military's larger, heavier unmanned vehicles, (Sam) Bendett suggested.

Russia is pretty good at developing new weapons systems. What they suck at is getting those systems from the lab to the battlefield in sufficient quantities to make a difference.

So, what do the experts think of Marker?

Russia is unlikely to field ground combat robots to Ukraine in large numbers, said Sam Bendett, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and an adviser at the CNA Corporation. “It appears that most of the existing Markers, 3 out of 5, will in fact be tested in Ukraine, and can be lost in combat,” Bendett said via email. “It also appears that Android Technology is actually ok with that, indicating a willingness to respond to the [Ministry of Defense] needs for improved weapons and tactics, and perhaps indicating that the company is working on other projects that can build on the Marker experience.” How well would a Russian robot perform against a well-trained human tank crew? On Twitter, Bendett expressed skepticism, calling the announcement mostly a PR stunt. “Previous Marker tests - at least those made public - were against small UAVs, and these [unmanned ground vehicles, or UGVs] conducted tests for orienting in a complex space like a forest, but not an actual battlefield where multiple countermeasures are trying to destroy the vehicle. Moreover, Western tanks will be part of combined arms formations with aerial support like drones and UAVs, which are going to hunt for any Russian target, including the likes of Marker ground vehicles. Rogozin's earlier claims of Marker as a recon UGV were more realistic.”

Here’s what gets me -— Russia can develop a combat robot or a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile that flies at 11,000 kph, but it can’t make them in sufficient quantities or sufficiently reliable to make any appreciable difference on the battlefield. It can make enough fabulous Armata tanks to fill out a parade, but it can’t make enough winter clothing to keep its soldiers from freezing to death in trenches.

It’s almost as if weapons systems like Marker and Armata are expensive dog and pony shows to convince everyone that Russia is on a technological par with NATO. Ya think?

Here’s what Marker is supposed to look like and do. How much do you want to bet that when it is finally deployed in the field it ends up shooting up a battalion of newly mobilized Russian soldiers?

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Withdrawal is not enough. Russia has to return all those Ukrainians who were kidnapped, especially the children, and turn over war criminals like Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to The Hague for prosecution.

x The #US authorities are ready to consider the possibility of easing anti-Russian sanctions if #Moscow starts withdrawing its Armed Forces from #Ukraine, said Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland. pic.twitter.com/219jxqc6TO — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 26, 2023

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It’s pretty clear that another big thing headed Ukraine’s way (eventually) are F-16 fighters.

x Lockheed Martin to ramp up production of F-16s - the Financial Times



American corporation Lockheed Martin has announced that it is ready to augment the production of F-16 fighter jets in order to meet Ukraine's demand for its combat aircraft.https://t.co/XEazV0K6cc — Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 26, 2023

This makes a good point. If F-16s are provided, what’s the excuse for not providing ATACMS?

x ATACMS could immediately begin countering the buildup for the long rumored “Spring Offensive”.



There are dozens of important logistics hubs outside of GMLRS range, but writhin ATACMS range. — Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) January 26, 2023

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This should have been done a long time ago. The Lukashenko regime is complicit in Russia’s war crimes.

x The European Union is considering imposing large-scale sanctions against the Lukashenko regime, which will affect dual-use goods, oil refining, the coal, steel and aviation industries, and imports of luxury goods. https://t.co/3LZQGBy6vR — NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) January 26, 2023

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A Russian tank takes out several Russian soldiers riding on an armored vehicle.

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Iran’s crappy military hardware isn’t any better than Russia’s.

x According Ukrainian air force all 24 Shaheds, which has been launched by Russia tonight, has been eliminated. #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/1mSQacybKF — (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) January 26, 2023

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Just steps right over him.

x Russian passed by a wounded comrade without even stopping. https://t.co/yglSBw2PQW pic.twitter.com/mZRBRKTFUV — Paul Jawin (@PaulJawin) January 26, 2023

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Well, he sure showed us a thing or two, didn’t he!

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/1/27/2149468/-Russia-wants-to-test-its-killer-combat-robots-in-Ukraine

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