Russia reveals unmanned flamethrower robot on Ukraine battlefield

A Russian robotic launcher equipped with a Shmel flamethrower has been spotted on the Ukrainian battlefield. The corresponding image was posted by the Telegram channel 'Arkhangel Spetsnaz'.

The photo shows a Kurier tracked armored robot, equipped with 10 flamethrower launchers. The robot is being transported on a truck bed. " This is the vehicle moving to the front line. We will not specify the direction, so it will be a surprise for the Ukrainian forces, which they obviously expected ," the Telegram channel 'Arkhangel Spetsnaz' wrote.

Image of Russia's new flamethrower robot on a vehicle moving into the conflict zone.

As described, it appears that the Kulibin Design Bureau has begun field testing of a new version of the Kuryer battlefield robotic platform.

Now, designers have transformed the popular remote-controlled military transport vehicle into a combat fire support vehicle - this is a miniature, unmanned version of the Solntsepek heavy self-propelled flamethrower complex.

For this purpose, a cluster of eight Shmel-type infantry hand-held flamethrowers (thermobaric incendiary projectile launchers) was installed on the Kuryer robotic platform.

Previously, at a military exhibition Robotic Engineering also introduced a robot with a similar design. This design was not named but Western observers temporarily called the robot “mini-Solntsepyok”.

Instead of using large thermobaric missiles, the platform uses infantry weapons such as the "Shmel" rocket launcher mounted on a double chassis. The system can fire all the launchers at the same time or sequentially. Developers say this approach reduces costs by using existing infantry ammunition and simplifies reloading.

The design of the autonomous robot is called mini-Solntsepyok.

The concept includes autonomous operating features. If contact with a human controller is lost, the robot is designed to continue moving using satellite positioning and built-in sensors. Developers also claim it can autonomously scan the battlefield and attack targets, although the feasibility of these capabilities remains uncertain.

The prospects for such products are promising, as they are compact, cheap and can protect personnel when they are relatively far from the line of contact. Due to the operation of UAVs in the rear, the risk of the Solntsepek complex being destroyed is very high, while the "mini TOS" based on the Kuryer platform has the potential to become a viable alternative.

The developer also confirmed testing of the new vehicle in a combat zone, along with a more official photo. Previously, the Kuryer platform was offered as a transport platform, a mine-laying vehicle, a mobile electronic warfare station, and a fire support robot with a machine gun and grenade launcher.