Enlarge / A Heidar-1 UGV gets busy with its assault rifle in a demonstration by the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces (NEZAJA).Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces (NEZAJA)

The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces (NEZAJA) recently revealed the Heidar-1 project, a group of small, networked robotic ground vehicles developed by the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization of the Iranian Army. The proclaimed "network-connected anti-infantry and armor smart UGVs" (unmanned ground vehicles) prototypes were on display at an Army weapons expo in Tehran.

The six-wheeled boxy bots, according to images and videos released by NEZAJA, come in six versions—including two that carry assault rifles mounted to their tops and one that is essentially a mobile anti-tank mine. The vehicles are topped with pairs of ruggedized antennae and small cameras; the assault-rifle equipped versions also appear to have a telescopic optic sensor for weapons aiming.

Project Heidar-1
Network-connected anti-infantry and armor smart UGVs pic.twitter.com/EvFfxh3Ehg

— Iran Military (@Iran_Military) October 4, 2019

In the video released in the Twitter post above, the UGVs fire their guns, and one rolls toward a tank-like target before exploding.

  • Collect all six!
  • A prototype anti-tank bot rolls under a target…
  • …and explodes.

The use of remote-controlled uncrewed ground vehicles is not uncommon in the Middle East—ISIS and other non-state organizations have built their own from commercially available partsRead More – Source