Russia unveils crewless howitzer prototype

Russia’s defense industry has once again showcased its ambitious military development efforts with the unveiling of a crewless howitzer prototype at the Army 2024 exhibition.

The prototype, named Klever, mounted on a tracked platform, is the latest in a series of military innovations presented at various international exhibitions and national parades, many of which have yet to see active deployment on the battlefield.

The crewless 122mm, installed on the MTS-15 tracked platform, is designed for remote operation. According to the brief description provided at the exhibition, the howitzer can be controlled from a distance of up to 500 meters. The system features an automatic loader capable of holding four rounds, allowing it to execute a series of shots before retreating to safety for reloading.

Russian developers envision the system’s primary role as an autonomous artillery unit capable of emerging from cover, firing a small number of rounds, and then withdrawing to a secure location to repeat the process. This design is intended to minimize the risk to personnel, who would operate the system from a relatively close but safe distance.

However, like many of Russia’s previous high-profile military projects, such as the Armata tank and the Kurganets infantry fighting vehicle, questions remain about whether this crewless howitzer will progress beyond the prototype stage and see active service.