Ukraine's “Stugna-P” anti-tank missile complex could be given a second life at a time when this type of weaponry is increasingly being pushed out of the foreground by attack drones. According to Defense Express, the relaunch of classic anti-tank systems would be possible if they were integrated on robotic ground platforms, which are beginning to be used more and more frequently on the battlefield, especially for logistics missions.
The Ukrainian anti-tank missile complex “Stugna-P”/PHOTO:X
Military experts agree that currently the main role in the destruction of armor belongs to kamikaze drones. They are cheaper, more mobile and easier to use. However, the Russian military is actively testing various types of improvised protection for tanks and armored vehicles, including metal structures and bar “cages” designed to detonate drones before direct impact.
In such conditions, to neutralize a single well-protected vehicle, a much larger number of drones is needed. For a classic anti-tank system, such as “Stugna-P”, this type of protection is not a major obstacle, but high costs have led to a reduction in the use of PТРКs at the front. Additionally, these systems are less mobile and pose considerable risks to the military operating them.
The problem is even more apparent with second-generation systems that use semi-active guidance. The operator is required to maintain the target in sight until impact, which exposes him to enemy fire. This category also includes the main Ukrainian systems: “Stugna-P”, “Barrier” and “Korsar”.
Defense Express analysts point out that both of these drawbacks – risk to personnel and reduced mobility – could be eliminated by mounting anti-tank missiles on robotic ground platforms. Thus, the launch could be carried out remotely, without directly exposing the military.
According to experts, Russia is also experimenting with similar solutions, trying to combine anti-tank weapons with small robotic vehicles. In Ukraine, the idea of launching anti-tank missiles from ground-based robots has been considered before, but the projects did not go beyond the testing stage and did not attract sufficient commercial or military interest.
However, the context on the front could change. As ground robots become increasingly present in combat zones, not only for transport, but also for support missions, interest in integrating anti-tank systems on such platforms could increase significantly.
In this scenario, “Stugna-P” and other similar systems could return to the fore, not as classic weaponry, but as part of a new combat concept, where technology reduces risks to people and increases efficiency on the battlefield.
