Can Remote Tanks Save Russia’s Army, Or Doom It Faster?

Russia is trialing remote-controlled tanks in Donetsk as it struggles to maintain armored strength under relentless attrition. These experimental platforms are intended to keep armor in the fight while reducing crew casualties, but early indications suggest that they may be deployed recklessly, further increasing Russian losses. The concept involves retrofitting T-72 and T-90 hulls with remote-control systems, linking them to a command vehicle that directs operations through live camera and thermal feeds. Prototypes show modifications such as bulldozer blades and shortened main guns, indicating a role in breaching urban defenses and minefields where manned armor suffers the most. While technically feasible on paper, these machines face severe limitations, including vulnerable control links, narrow situational awareness, and reduced production output, all of which may undermine their effectiveness. Ultimately, the remote-controlled tanks appear as a stopgap measure rather than a breakthrough, reflecting Moscow’s desperation and creating new vulnerabilities for Ukraine to exploit.

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