Russia uses combat robots, drones in Baltic military drills

The newest robotized strike systems and drones developed by Russian engineers for the army and fleet are taking part in the military drills in Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, a Baltic Fleet spokesman said on Friday.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the start of military exercises involving the Baltic Fleet forces, the Airborne Troops and the Russian Air Force in Russia’s westernmost Kaliningrad region on June 10.

The drills are taking place alongside NATO military exercises, which are underway in the three Baltic States as well as in the Baltic Sea off the coasts of Sweden and Denmark. About 6,000 troops are being involved in the NATO maneuvers.

“Grusha drones are being used by the coastal troops of the Baltic Fleet and Airborne Force units to assess the efficiency of target destruction and adjust artillery and tank fire and conduct reconnaissance,” head of the information support department of the Western Military District press office for the Baltic Fleet, Captain 2nd Rank Vladimir Matveyev told ITAR-TASS.

The number of troops, arms and military hardware involved in Russia’s Baltic drills is comparable to the number of troops, weapons and military hardware taking part in the border exercises of NATO countries.

The drones’ newest systems help track several targets at a time, including camouflaged targets while the drones themselves remain undetected.

Platforma-M remote control robotized strike systems have proved their efficiency in accomplishing missions to liquidate potential illegal armed formations in urban conditions and delivering strikes against stationary and moving targets. They are also used to conduct reconnaissance and clear passages in minefields.

The Platforma-M robotized tracked-chassis system is equipped with four grenade launchers and a Kalashnikov machine gun to engage in a battle without a direct contact with the enemy. The combat platform also uses an electro-optical system and radar for reconnaissance.

The Platforma-M robotized system, which has been recently made operational in the Russian Navy, was for the first time demonstrated to the public during a Victory Parade in Kaliningrad on May 9, the spokesman said.