Ukraine took a Soviet-era BMP, bolted on a Spanish remote turret with modern optics and a stabilized 30mm cannon, and essentially told the vehicle: congratulations, comrade, you're NATO-ish now.
Hi Skian, the weapon end is fully decoupled from a human being sitting in the turret. What's left to make the whole vehicle uncrewed is the driving and the data link: drive-by-wire controls on the engine, transmission, and steering, plus a radio or fiber link to pipe the camera feeds and commands back to an operator somewhere safer. Like you mentioned, Ukraine has already built exactly that on simpler platforms. All the building blocks already exist!
The main reason why many troopers would rather ride outside is because BMPs are notoriously claustrophobic inside and, when they are moving, the immobile seats, the lack of suspension and the lack of daylight, makes it feel like you're tumbling around inside of a laundry dryer drum. Allegedly, many troopers in the back start vomiting violently when the vehicle is in motion.
The first time ever got in the back of a BMP, I was literally shocked. It's very difficult just getting inside the back of the BMP, and that is when it is empty! Have five or six other people in there as well? Forget about it. Riding in the back of BMP makes siitting in the back of a Bradley like riding in a luxury vehicle.
Hi Wes, what I’d love to get your take on: how do the Ukrainians (or any army for that matter) get back into manoeuvre warfare? Seen a video of a russian fuel truck with a turret bolted onto the cabin as drone defence - looks like straight out of Mad Max - probably AI-generated and if real, it doesn’t seem to work. But it is an attempt at solving THE problem of this new form of war. The trench war of WWI birthed the Blitzkrieg of WWII - wondering what’s gonna come out of this war.
Hi George, nobody has fully cracked it yet, but the outlines are forming. A few threads worth watching. First, you can't maneuver until you win the air littoral, that low band of sky from zero to a few thousand feet where the drones live. WWII blitzkrieg worked because the Germans owned the air above the spearhead. The modern equivalent is layered, mobile, short-range air defense and electronic warfare moving with the assault force, the Skynex and Gepard logic pushed forward, plus interceptor drones and jamming bubbles that travel with the tanks instead of sitting back at fixed sites. Maneuver returns when you can carry your own anti-drone umbrella into the breach.
Second, the breakthrough may be mass uncrewed systems absorbing the first and most lethal phase. You send robots and drones to find the mines, eat the FPVs, and trigger the ambushes, then your humans exploit through the gap that's already been bled white.
Ukraine has rolling, robotic machine guns. Could this vehicle be modified to be operated remotely?
Hi Skian, the weapon end is fully decoupled from a human being sitting in the turret. What's left to make the whole vehicle uncrewed is the driving and the data link: drive-by-wire controls on the engine, transmission, and steering, plus a radio or fiber link to pipe the camera feeds and commands back to an operator somewhere safer. Like you mentioned, Ukraine has already built exactly that on simpler platforms. All the building blocks already exist!
The main reason why many troopers would rather ride outside is because BMPs are notoriously claustrophobic inside and, when they are moving, the immobile seats, the lack of suspension and the lack of daylight, makes it feel like you're tumbling around inside of a laundry dryer drum. Allegedly, many troopers in the back start vomiting violently when the vehicle is in motion.
The first time ever got in the back of a BMP, I was literally shocked. It's very difficult just getting inside the back of the BMP, and that is when it is empty! Have five or six other people in there as well? Forget about it. Riding in the back of BMP makes siitting in the back of a Bradley like riding in a luxury vehicle.
As you pointed out, it’s the hull that gives soldiers and drivers alike a lot of pause. There’s a reason Russian troops often ride mounted outside, on top of BMPs, and it’s not because they want more fresh air. The protection against mines seems completely inadequate, egress isn’t great, and the tendency to turn into an instant flambé due to fuel isn’t awesome either.
On the other hand, mechanized transport exists for a reason and this turret should marginally improve the protection and survival of its users. Olé!
Hi Wes, what I’d love to get your take on: how do the Ukrainians (or any army for that matter) get back into manoeuvre warfare? Seen a video of a russian fuel truck with a turret bolted onto the cabin as drone defence - looks like straight out of Mad Max - probably AI-generated and if real, it doesn’t seem to work. But it is an attempt at solving THE problem of this new form of war. The trench war of WWI birthed the Blitzkrieg of WWII - wondering what’s gonna come out of this war.
Hi George, nobody has fully cracked it yet, but the outlines are forming. A few threads worth watching. First, you can't maneuver until you win the air littoral, that low band of sky from zero to a few thousand feet where the drones live. WWII blitzkrieg worked because the Germans owned the air above the spearhead. The modern equivalent is layered, mobile, short-range air defense and electronic warfare moving with the assault force, the Skynex and Gepard logic pushed forward, plus interceptor drones and jamming bubbles that travel with the tanks instead of sitting back at fixed sites. Maneuver returns when you can carry your own anti-drone umbrella into the breach.
Second, the breakthrough may be mass uncrewed systems absorbing the first and most lethal phase. You send robots and drones to find the mines, eat the FPVs, and trigger the ambushes, then your humans exploit through the gap that's already been bled white.
I’m loving their heart and ingenuity. Thank you for giving me pride in being human.