Iran shows off new killer wheeled robots designed to take on tanks, infantry

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

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