Russian Exoskeleton for Artillery Shell Handling

Sputnik International reports that Exo Solutions in “…Russia plans to test exoskeletons that can help military crews to handle artillery shells.” According to Maksim Skokov, general director of Exo Solutions, a Russian company that develops this type of equipment.

The Exoskeleton Report (ExR) is not aware of the company Exo Solutions or its work in the exoskeleton field. Sputnik International further claims that Exo Solutions will conduct trials by the end of this calendar year at a proving ground to evaluate the wearable for artillery shell handling.

The in Sputnik is likely a response to the exoskeleton testing with the 101st Airborne in the US becoming public: SABER Brings Mass Adoption Of Military Exoskeletons One Step Closer To Reality (Aug, 2022).

Further Details:

The Russian exoskeleton for artillery shell handling may be a modified version of the one claimed to be used in Syria for mine removal. If that is the case, the exo is a product of Rostec State Corporation in conjunction with:

• Research Institute of Mechanics, with laboratory lead of general mechanics Vladimir Budanov.
• TSNIITochMash (the Central Research Institute for Precision Machine Building), a Rostec subsidiary.

Based on previous military Russian exoskeleton announcements, the artillery shell handling exoskeleton in question will likely be a lower-body powered exoskeleton that may make it easier for soldiers to walk while carrying heavy objects.

Why use an exoskeleton?

The tragic conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of quickly setting up an artillery position, firing, dismantling everything, and moving away from the area. Gone are the days of static artillery camps from the Vietnam War. This puts tremendous strain and stress on the bodies of the soldiers. Thus, an artilleryman can suffer a musculoskeletal injury and be put out of action without being in a direct firefight. It is unlikely that wearable sensors that beep and vibrate to remind soldiers to lift “better” will be a solution when they are overburdened. Both field guns and the ammunition for them weigh significantly. A wearable device that physically helps to lift and/or move with the soldiers makes sense.

Featured image (top of the article): Sputnik World, Image Credit: Evgeny Odinokov, August 28, 2021, link

The original articles by Sputnik can be found here:

• Russia Expected to Test Use of Exoskeletons for Handling Artillery Shells, Nov 6, 2022, link

• Russia Developing Combat Exoskeletons, Testing Them in Syria, Aug, 2021, link