Ukraine’s military has a new remote-controlled weapon, a small ground robot carrying an anti-tank mine. Known as the Gnome Kamikaze, it adds a new dimension to mine warfare.
Ukrainian company Temerland based in Zaporizhia developed the robot after release of the machine-gun armed GNOM (Gnome) uncrewed vehicle in June. The Gnome Kamikaze is based on a four-wheeled platform with exceptionally low ground clearance – low enough to drive underneath cars and other wheeled vehicles.
Its cargo compartment takes a TM-62 type anti-tank mine – a Russian weapon, appropriately enough. The TM-62 carries a charge of 7.5kg/17 lbs. of explosive with a magnetic influence fuse set off by any metallic object above it. Eduard Trotsenko, CEO and owner of TEMERLAND, notes that the operator can also trigger Gnome Kamikaze to detonate at will.
Ukrainian forces have used TM-62 mine extensively in the current conflict (video here). They are powerful enough to cause critical damage to main battle tanks, or simply flip vehicles over. In general the mine will at least destroy a track or wheel, leaving a vehicle immobile and helpless. One Ukrainian defender commented that “Our three main allies are the Dnipro [River], the Seversky Donets [River] and the TM-62 anti-tank mine.” The Gnome Kamikaze turns these mines into offensive weapons.
It is the successor to the WWII German Goliath Tracked Mine. Known as the ‘beetle tank,’ these little tracked vehicles were less than five feet long and carried a hundred-pound explosive charge. Goliaths were used against tanks and fortifications, but their weakness was a trailing a control cable which could be cut by enemy fire. Goliaths had limited effect, but Trotsenko believes the new design will do much better, partly thanks to its low profile.
“Our kamikaze platform has a high camouflage factor due to its ultra-low silhouette, making it ideal for surprise attacks on roadways from ambush where the platform is completely invisible,” Trotsenko told me. “The platform can meet an enemy convoy on occupied highways, and also has the ability to eliminate enemy vehicles in any terrain.”
He says the wheeled platform is fastest on paved surface, making it ideal for urban, suburban and road situations, but also has good off-road capability. And it is likely to be used in conjunction with drones.
“Good results can be achieved by adjusting the course with aerial reconnaissance with quadcopters,” says Trotsenko.
The Gnome Kamikaze can stealthily approach a known enemy position, and a quadcopter – now universally used by Ukrainian forces for tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting – can direct it to a specific vehicle. And, aided by the Russians being distracted by the threat of a possible bomb attack from above, the mine-carrying robot completes its mission.
The robot can be radio-controlled from about half a mile away, or a mile with the aid of a repeater.
Trotsenko says the robot is simple to use — he claims that anyone can operate a Gnome Kamikaze after about five minutes practice with the control panel. He does suggest that complex missions which involve a lot of maneuvering would take more training.
“If the task becomes more complicated and we are talking about raids behind enemy lines, joint training of the UGV operator and the UAV [drone] operator is necessary for more efficient performance of tasks with the help of unmanned vehicles.”
Trotsenko says his team are working closely with combat units and have introduced improvements based on the feedback they have received. At the same time, the military are honing their tactics based on the new capabilities provided by the robots.
As an alternative payload, the Gnome Kamikaze can carry a directional anti-personnel mine — like the Claymore mines which the U.S. has supplied to Ukraine. But its main function will be taking out vehicles. And it is likely to see action very soon.
“The platforms have already been transferred to the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” says Trotsenko.
It might seem odd to reveal this weapon before it is used and lose the element of surprise. (Though the makers are not revealing any photos or video of actual hardware). But perhaps the psychological impact of knowing that there might be something deadly moving towards you in the long grass will be as significant as the physical threat. Any drone passing overhead might be directing a Gnome Kamikaze to your position.
Previously soldiers had to stray into a minefield to be in danger. For the Russians, the minefield will now come to them.
Source: forbes.com
