Stridsmaskin 90 Heavy UGV (Sweden, late 1980s)

[Grey Havoc]

One of those robot tank projects that were a reasonably popular line of research during the 1980s. This particular design was based around a articulated walker chassis, a hot concept in robotics circles of the time. Primary roles were anti-tank and fire support, though it would have likely also given Soviet attack helicopters a hard time. Planned to be capable of remote or autonomous operation. Among other things it was intended to replace the Stridsvagn 104 (Centurion MBT) in the anti-tank companies of Infantry brigades. Counter-insurgency operations were another design consideration. One of the design's somewhat more controversial aspects was the ability to deploy chemical munitions non-lethal and otherwise, along with more innocuous TI smoke & other obscurants. Would have had a pretty comprehensive ESSM suite. Primary sensors included multiple thermal imagers (there were also secondary backup IR sensors), DSP/acoustic & sonic sensors, and a microwave radar system.

Known armament specs included a stabilised 40mm Bofors L/70, a Tksp 12,7 mm (50.Cal) machine gun, a missile pod (possibly for the Tigrat LR, Sweden was interested at the time in licencing it for production), a rocket pod (probably with eight 74mm Pansarskott m/68, aka 'Miniman' rockets) and a anti-sensor/anti-infantry dazzler.

Another ambitious element of the design was that the primary power source would have been a heavy duty hydrogen (PEM type) fuel cell stack.

An artist's illustration can be found here.


APRIL FOOLS ;D

 

[Antonio]

Really love that!...chief engineer was renowned Professor Franz from Copenhagen.

 

[Silencer1]

Really love that!...chief engineer was renowned Professor Franz from Copenhagen.

Perhaps, this combat vehicle' (possible) secret tests near the Sweden' shoreline have been "covered" by the "tracked-submarines" publication in native newspapers?
By such publications, all footprints and other evidence of fighting vehicle's movement have been hidden by much public-attractive stories of foreign subs.
This allows, in turn to test Strv 90 in various environments, not reachable by classic tracked vehicles.

Of course, it's just a speculation: but the current evidence of Stridsmaskin 90 Heavy UGV' developement allows us to consider such propositions.

We all knew, how unorthodox and effective have been Sweden designs of aircraft, tanks, cars and social life.
So, why we couldn't consider such bold approach in the design of this walker?

 

[Grey Havoc]

Thanks for playing along guys!