Ukraine: Gnom military robots are thrown into battle against the Russians

By David Hambling

The Ukrainian forces are acquiring another weapon in their quiver against the Russians: the Gnom military reconnaissance robot, which will locate Russian military positions and provide fire support, according to the Temerland-based construction company. Zaporizhia. The Gnom will be launched on the battlefield next week, according to a company announcement.

While drones are everywhere in this conflict, robots or unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) have rarely appeared. Counterinsurgency lines have now stabilized, and both sides are increasingly using portable radio frequency interceptors to neutralize drones. Gnom is an alternative means of remote espionage, unaffected by interference.

In size, the robot is slightly larger than a microwave oven and weighs up to 50 kg. According to the manufacturer, the Gnom has 4-wheel drive and a silent 5-horsepower electric motor. The current version has a 7.62 mm machine gun. U.S. Army research shows that UGVs are fixed firing platforms, enabling a gunner to hit his target from a distance with remarkable accuracy.

While most UGVs are radio-controlled, Gnom carries a fiber optic cable. Eduard Trotsenko, CEO and owner of Temerland, said the hard, durable cable provides a broadband connection that is not affected by radio interference.

“The pilot can maintain control of Gnom even in the most hostile cyberwar environment,” Trotsenko explained.

In addition, since the pilot does not use wireless, it can not be detected and targeted by artillery, a danger that drone pilots face.

“The operator does not deploy an antenna control station and thus does not disclose its location,” Trotsenko described. “The cable is not visible and also does not produce thermal radiation that could be perceived by a thermal imager.”

Similar fiber-optic settings were used for guided missiles in the early 2000s, mainly for the French Polyphem and US Army EFOG-M, as well as for DARPA’s Close Combat Lethal Recon, developed by Switchblade.

The Gnom cable allows it to travel within a 2 km radius – if the connection is lost, the vehicle automatically returns to a predetermined position. Although it usually works remotely, Gnom has artificial intelligence and autonomous navigation.

Gnom has a machine gun that allows it to defend itself but also to provide fire support in difficult situations for human resources. The other versions of Gnom are used in logistics, intelligence gathering and sabotage. Temerland has previously launched a Gnom truck, which can carry ammunition or other supplies to the front line, or remove casualties by adding a special trailer.

A more aggressive Gnom “places” TM62 mines: Temerland has released a video showing the robot moving under an enemy vehicle and firing. The explosive charge of 7 kg will destroy the chariot, or at least neutralize it by immobilizing it. (The Australian Army signed an agreement last year to supply similar kamikaze robots).

“New designs for mobile mining platforms are being tested,” Trotsenko said.

The company has announced the development of other variants of GNOM: equipped with anti-tank missiles, transponders, or drone platforms.

In the meantime, GNOM will be deployed to the reconnaissance service. Temerland developers say the vehicle is almost silent and easily passes unnoticed. It has the ability to carry a 360-degree camera on a telescopic mast and to capture in detail the surrounding area.

Ukraine is developing other remote-controlled systems, such as a sedan armed with a 14.5mm remote-controlled machine gun, but the Gnom will be the first robotic vehicle on the battlefield. Russia also has military robots, but so far the only units used in Ukraine are the Uran-6 demining robots. The Uran-9 robotic tank, which did not do well in Syria, is useless in this conflict.

Military robots have long been used to reduce casualties and keep soldiers away from the line of fire, while maintaining contact with the enemy. The Gnom can be valuable in obtaining close information and images of Russian forces, as well as in directing Ukrainian artillery accurately at enemy targets without endangering the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.