Ukraine continues to strengthen its Armed Forces with a wide variety of weapons supplied by Western partners. Of course, heavy offensive weapons are the most relevant now, but Ukraine needs help when working with territories liberated from the enemy.
Ukraine will receive a batch of TALON sappers from the United States. We tell what it is What is it about
One of the current problems in the war is the issue of effective demining of the liberated territories. And here the American TALON sappers will soon come to the aid of the Ukrainian soldiers.
What it is
It is no secret that robotic vehicles have long been used for military purposes, and these technologies have touched, among other things, the problems of mine clearance. So now sappers often have reliable assistants who not only increase work efficiency, but also save the lives of sappers.
One of these assistants is the TALON robots, which were developed by the American company Foster-Miller, founded specifically for the production of military robotics. At the moment, about 5,000 of these robots of various modifications are serving around the world.
Ukrainian soldiers are trained to work with TALON sappersThe TALON robot is about 90 cm long and 40 cm high, and at the same time has a mass of 50 to 70 kg (depending on the equipment installed on it). It is capable of towing cargo weighing up to 680 kg! In the active mode, the charge of the TALON robot is enough for at least 3 hours.
How demining happens
The operator controls the robot remotely. Two options are possible - both by cable, but the maximum control distance is only 300 meters, and by means of radio communication. In the latter case, the control distance will be at least 500 meters, and when installing additional equipment - up to 1000 meters.
The TALON robot control kit weighs only 15 kg and includes the joystick control panel itself. However, the robot can also be controlled stationary, using an appropriate laptop.
Depending on the specific model and the task being solved, robots can be equipped with various optoelectronic and infrared means of observation (detection), means of communication and data transmission, laser rangefinders and other special equipment. In particular, the robot's standard equipment includes up to four color video cameras (one of which is an optical digital camera with a 25x zoom) and an infrared camera. Monochrome cameras and night vision devices can be installed.
The TALON robot can be equipped with a wide variety of demining equipment - chemical, optoelectronic, infrared, radiation and others, built on modern sensors. At the same time, robots can be equipped with several color video cameras with multiple magnification, as well as an infrared camera and a night vision device.
What will the Ukrainian army get
It is expected that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive at least 20 TALON sapper robots from the United States.
Ukrainian soldiers are trained to work with TALON sappersAt the same time, Ukrainian soldiers are undergoing an intensive training program to work with these machines. Corresponding photos have already appeared on the network.
