Russia showcased the "Shturm" robotic assault tank during the Center-2026 exercises

During the “Center-2026” military exercises at the Chebarkul training ground in the Chelyabinsk Region, Russia unveiled its new robotic assault tank, the “Shturm.” 

The appearance of the “Shturm” did not come as a complete surprise, as news of the vehicle’s development had emerged several years ago. 

The first mentions of the robotic assault complex date back to 2018, when Uralvagonzavod announced the creation of a heavy complex designed primarily for combat in urban environments.

In 2025, a video of the new vehicle was released, although its quality was rather poor. The developers based the “Shturm” on the T-72/T-90 tanks.

The robotic tank is equipped with a 125-mm short-barreled gun, which is intended for close-range combat.

The vehicle’s design also incorporates a number of features for urban combat. Specifically, the “Shurm” is equipped with:

• a bulldozer blade for clearing obstacles;
• all-around protection against anti-tank grenade launchers;
• remote control capability;
• crew compartments, allowing the vehicle to be used in traditional mode as well.

In addition, during the “Center-2026” exercises, the Russian military deployed an unmanned version of the tank support combat vehicle (BMPT).

According to the Russian developers’ concept, the “Shturm” is intended to operate in the front echelons of an offensive. The vehicle is designed to detect enemy firepower in urban environments and neutralize it.

The robotic tank can operate both remotely and with a crew on board. However, to use the vehicle in unmanned mode, a separate manned vehicle is required to control it.

At the same time, experts express skepticism regarding the “Shturm’s” capabilities. In particular, experts point out that the vehicle’s design may be outdated and unsuited to modern battlefield tasks.

“During the assault on the Mannerheim Line, this might have been relevant,” writes the Center for Strategy and Technology Analysis.

Experts also have reservations about the remote control of the combat vehicle. According to them, it does not necessarily provide a significant advantage, since control is effectively limited to line of sight, and communication can be lost due to obstacles.

Renowned armored vehicle researcher Andriy Tarasenko also pointed out the limitations of such a system.

“All of this would work if the tank could be controlled, so to speak, from the other side of the world and if the communication couldn’t be jammed, but that is not the case and is not expected, since the ‘Shturm’ is an old design dating back to the ‘Armata’ era,” writes Andriy Tarasenko.

Thus, Russia has demonstrated the “Shturm” as a robotic vehicle for assault operations in urban environments; however, experts point out the system’s technical and conceptual limitations, particularly the reliance of remote control on a stable communication link.

Uralvagonzavod announced the combat vehicle’s debut.

It’s worth noting that the Ukrainian military has shown that tanks have not lost their significance even on the battlefield, where drones have become one of the main threats. Retired British Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon analyzed the recent operation by the 475th Separate Assault Regiment “CODE 9.2” in the Kharkiv region in a column for The Telegraph. Ukrainian tanks operated there alongside several types of drones and were able to complete their mission and return undamaged.