Uran-9
Tracked UCGV for reconnaissance and fire support with mixed combat record.
The Uran-9 is a tracked unmanned combat ground vehicle (UCGV) built by JSC 766 UPTK, now part of the Kalashnikov Concern, and marketed internationally by Rosoboronexport. According to the exporter, the system is meant to provide remote reconnaissance and fire support for combined combat, reconnaissance, and counter-terrorism units.
Its armament includes a 2A72 mod ABM M30-M3 autocannon from Impul's 2 in Sevastopol, along with other Russian artillery manufacturers. It can carry four Ataka or similar anti-tank guided missiles, as well as Igla or Strela surface-to-air missiles. The vehicle also has a fire control system, camera and infrared sensors, a laser rangefinder, and other detection equipment.
The Uran-9 was first used in the Syrian Civil War. A performance report from the 3rd Central Research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense stated the vehicle functioned poorly and could not complete many of its assigned missions. However, an industry source claimed it showed high performance in operational conditions during Syrian tests, and that work was underway to improve its range, response time, and data bandwidth.
The vehicle also took part in the Vostok 2018 large-scale drills. It entered military service in January 2019 and was first used in a defense exercise in August 2021. During the Zapad-2021 drills, Uran-9 and Nerekhta reconnaissance and fire support robots were deployed in regular formation ranks for the first time. In the 2022 9 May Victory Parade, Uran-9 vehicles were carried on trucks, and their sensors were missing.
According to the manufacturer, the platform can move using onboard batteries with the engine off, follow a given route while automatically detecting and avoiding obstacles, and receive and transmit control commands from a mobile control point or remote control to another retransmission unit. It can be controlled remotely via radio, and it can automatically track targets. The control range from the control panel to the vehicle is at least 3 kilometers, depending on terrain and weather. The signal retransmission range between units is at least 1 kilometer. Each control panel and remote control is equipped with a laser radiation warning system that lets the operator identify the radiation source within a 30-degree sector.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Russia
- Service
- 2019–present
- Wars
- Syrian civil war
- Designed
- 2015
- Manufacturer
- JSC 766 UPTK
- Impul's 2 Sevastopol
- Kalashnikov Concern
- Crew
- 1 (unmanned controller)
- Passengers
- 0
- Primary armament
- 30 mm / 1.18 in 2A72 autocannon ABM M30-M3 modification Shipunov 2A42
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Uran-9 was first deployed during the Syrian Civil War. A performance report from the 3rd Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that the vehicle functioned poorly and was unable to perform many assigned missions. However, an industry source claimed it demonstrated high performance in an operational environment, noting that industry was working to increase its range, response time, and data bandwidth. The vehicle was also used in the large-scale Vostok 2018 drills and entered military service in January 2019. It was first used in a defense exercise in August 2021. During the Zapad-2021 drills, Uran-9 and Nerekhta reconnaissance and fire support robots were used in regular ranks of formations for the first time. Uran-9 vehicles took part in Russia's 9 May Victory Parade in 2022, carried on the back of a truck, with sensors missing.
Reader's Guide
The Uran-9 represents a notable attempt by Russian defense industry to field a tracked unmanned combat ground vehicle for combined combat, reconnaissance, and counter-terrorism roles. Its operational history reveals a sharp dispute: a Russian Ministry of Defense research institute reported poor performance and inability to complete missions during its Syrian deployment, while an industry source claimed high performance and ongoing improvements. This tension highlights the challenges of integrating such systems into real combat environments. The vehicle's features include remote control via radio channel, automatic target tracking, and a laser radiation warning system that allows the operator to determine the source of radiation within a 30-degree sector. A smoke screen installation system can automatically deploy a smoke curtain in the direction of laser irradiation. The control range from the control panel is at least 3 km, with signal retransmission between units at least 1 km. Its participation in major Russian exercises (Vostok 2018, Zapad 2021) and the 2022 Victory Parade—where it appeared with missing sensors—underscores its symbolic and experimental role in Russian military modernization, though its actual combat effectiveness remains contested.
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