Russia’s “Shturm” heavy robotic tank made a notable appearance at the Center-2026 military exercise, highlighting recent demonstrations of Russian armored vehicles. The unmanned vehicle was observed operating as part of an armored formation alongside a conventional T-90M crewed tank at the Chebarkul training range in the Chelyabinsk Region on October 2, 2026. The Shturm was remotely managed from a separate command vehicle.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that unmanned tanks executed fire missions as part of armored groups during the main phase of Center-2026. The vehicles employed tactical maneuvering, firing from short stops and subsequently switching firing positions. The ministry also emphasized the redundancy for its most vulnerable components.
However, the Shturm was the most intriguing component. A fully unmanned machine was observed in the most recent footage, conducting operations without a crew inside its hull, including firing its 125-mm gun using an automatic loading system. This was not merely an experimental vehicle moving around a test range. This has a substantial impact on the public’s perception of a project that, a year ago, appeared to be predominantly in the testing phase.
A Project That Has Been in Development for Years
The Shturm’s history predates the first videos of the vehicle. In 2018, the Russian Defense Ministry first disclosed information regarding the heavy mechanized combat complex. At the time, it was reported that Uralvagonzavod was developing a robotic vehicle that was based on the T-72/T-90 family of tank chassis in accordance with a Russian Defense Ministry order. The concept involved developing an entire system rather than merely converting a tank to remote control.
Several specialized combat vehicles were reportedly proposed in the original concept. The vehicle was proposed to be equipped with rocket flamethrowers, two 30-mm automatic cannons, and 220-mm thermobaric unguided rockets, in addition to the iteration that was armed with a 125-mm gun. A collection of robotic combat vehicles was intended to be under the control of a single command vehicle at a distance of up to three kilometers.
The main concept of the project was to use a platform that was heavily protected in situations where the direct insertion of a human crew into the vehicle would be particularly risky. Therefore, the initial objective of the concept was not to develop a universal unmanned tank but rather to develop a specialized assault vehicle that was designed to operate in challenging urban environments.
Why Was the Gun Made Shorter?
The 125-mm D-414 cannon is one of the most peculiar characteristics of the Shturm’s gun-armed version. Its barrel is considerably shorter than that of the conventional 2A46 tank cannon. An autoloader capable of accommodating 22 rounds and a barrel length of approximately 4,000 mm was previously reported.
The logic of such a design is clearly defined. The Shturm was designed with urban operations in mind, where a long gun barrel can significantly limit maneuverability. Reducing the gun’s overhang can offer a practical advantage when maneuvering through narrow passages, between buildings, or turning the vessel in confined spaces.
Concurrently, a shorter gun necessitates a compromise. In comparison to a full-length tank gun, the improved maneuverability in confined spaces is offset by specific ballistic limitations. Accordingly, the Shturm should not be considered a direct replacement for the T-90M but rather a specialized vehicle.
From Experimental Prototype to a Real Robotic Vehicle
The Shturm received significant attention in 2025 when video footage was released depicting the vehicle in close proximity to the Uralvagonzavod facility in Nizhny Tagil. A command vehicle was followed by a robotic tank that was equipped with a short-barreled cannon, as evidenced by the footage. Nevertheless, the presence of a human inside the combat vehicle at the time raised concerns regarding the remote-control system’s maturity.
The situation appears to have changed a year later. The interior of an empty Shturm combat compartment was depicted by Russian media in October 2026, as the vehicle was firing and autonomously loading ammunition. Additionally, the command vehicle was demonstrated.
This is arguably the most important development demonstrated by the latest footage. The system is already capable of performing its principal combat actions without a crew physically inside the tank, at least in the scenario depicted.
Why Is a Regular T-90M Needed Alongside It?
The combination of a Shturm and a conventional T-90M is particularly intriguing. Initially, the use of a crewed tank in conjunction with an autonomous one may appear unusual. Nevertheless, the arrangement is underpinned by a clear tactical rationale.
The T-90M retains a full crew, onboard observation and communication systems, and the ability to make decisions directly from the vehicle. In contrast, the robotic vehicle relocates the operators to a distinct, secure command platform. This could enable the unmanned vehicle to be deployed in scenarios where the danger to personnel is particularly high, while the conventional tank remains in close proximity to provide independent action and fire support.
In the future, this arrangement may prove to be more significant than the development of a singular robotic tank. Crewed armored vehicles can provide support, coordination, and additional firepower, while one vehicle can perform the most dangerous tasks if multiple vehicles can operate in tandem.
Serial production is the Main Question
Nevertheless, it is premature to infer that the Shturm is imminently entering large-scale production. The number of vehicles manufactured, the timetable for concluding trials, and an official decision regarding serial deliveries are not provided in detail by open sources. Even the characteristics that were previously reported—such as a control range of up to three kilometers, a speed of up to 40 km/h, and a mass of approximately 50 tonnes—should be considered preliminary project data rather than guaranteed specifications for the specific vehicle displayed at Center-2026.
This is why the most recent demonstration is crucial, as it serves as evidence that the program is still in progress. The Shturm survived its initial trials and became more than a trivial exhibition project. It was displayed as part of a tactical training scenario, in conjunction with a serial-production T-90M, and its remote-controlled discharge capability was also demonstrated.
This concept has a clear potential for application in modern military missions, where the direct deployment of a crew into a vehicle would entail an exceptionally high level of risk. Simultaneously, significant inquiries persist regarding the resilience of communications, the resistance to electronic warfare, operator situational awareness, and the capacity of a robotic group to operate in an urban environment with significantly damaged infrastructure.
The presence of a conventional T-90M alongside the Shturm at Center-2026 suggests that the Russian military envisions using a robot alongside a tank rather than replacing the tank with a robot.