A new video shows a Russian military robot

doing something no American machine in service can match: firing a machine gun. It's hardly a technological triumph—the U.S. has been testing armed robots for decades. But while political and ethical caution has prevented the West from advancing with the concept, Russia seems determined to field a wide variety of combat robots.

The Russians call such robots MRKs, from the Russian for Mobile Robotic Complex. The latest is the MRK-002-BG-57, nicknamed Wolf-2. It's basically a tank the size of a small car with a 12.7-mm heavy machine gun. In the tank's automated mode, the operator can remotely select up to 10 targets, which the robot then bombards. Wolf-2 can act on its own to some degree (the makers are vague about what degree), but the decision to use lethal force is ultimately under human control.

Ramp-Up

Although the U.S. military fielded thousands of robots in Iraq and Afghanistan, these were used for bomb disposal and reconnaissance only. In 2007 the widely publicized deployment of three Talon/SWORDS robots fitted with machine guns ended in fiasco. The robots were confined to their base and never sent out on patrol because of fears of what might happen if anything went wrong. Work continues with MAARS, the successor to Talon/SWORDS, but there is no sign yet of anything being fielded. And when the budget gets tight, unmanned systems tend to feel the squeeze first.

While research stalls in the United States, Russia's leaders are determined to make their country a robot superpower. In January 2013, defense minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to expand the army's use of robots. A few months later, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin announced a new production facility for military robots and a research center for military robotics. Rogozin says that someday soon, one Russian soldier will do the work that takes five or 10 soldiers today, which would be impossible without advanced robots.

Not surprisingly, then, Wolf-2 is far from Russia's only entry in armed robotics. In December, Shoigu visited Rzhevsky Proving Ground to watch a Jeep-size amphibious vehicle called Argo swim across a lake and fire at targets. In June Rogozin was treated to a display by the tank-like Nerehta with twin machine guns; the developers claim the stabilization is better than on Western models. (Rogozin advised adding some anti-tank missiles. This would give it effective firepower against other vehicles as well as against foot soldiers.

There are smaller machines for urban operations, like the Strelok or "Sharpshooter," a 5-foot by 2-foot robot armed with a Kalashnikov, that can slam through doors and climb stairs. Then there is the Metalliste, a short-range, grenade-lobbing device, a 110-pound six-wheeler that can mount a silenced submachine gun as well. It is supposed to reduce casualties to Interior Ministry police by keeping them out of harm's way.

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Catch-Up

These unmanned systems represent a monumental undertaking, especially for a Russian military known not for high-tech systems but for rugged, reliable weapons that can be churned out in great numbers (think the T-34 tank, AK-47 Kalashnikov, and RPG-7 grenade launcher). Frank Tobe, editor of The Robot Report, says that the Russians have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to sophisticated fighting robots.

"My sources in Israel and the U.S. say that Russia is generations behind and not a serious participant in the growing science of unmanned vehicles," Tobe told Popular Mechanics.

But Mark Gubrud, an expert on emerging technology and a member of the International Committee for Robot Arms Control, believes the situation has the makings of an arms race.

"Russia will need years to catch up in robotics but is fully capable of doing so," Gubrud says. "This highlights the folly of pursuing a robot arms race. As the U.S. and U.K. are clear leaders in the race, they should equally well take the lead in calling it off." Would Russia really agree to call off the arms race? "I do believe they may support the initiative if others do, especially the U.S, U.K. and allies," Gubrud says.

We're still waiting to see whether Russia has the funding to back up its armed robot rhetoric. It is clear, however, that the push to develop Russia's own Terminators has support from the very top.

"These are serious combat systems, both attack and reconnaissance versions," President Vladimir Putin said last year, describing new Russian development in unmanned vehicles. "It is absolutely clear that they have good prospects."

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