Russia Unveils Kuryer UGCS With Bagunlnik-82 Automated Mortar

Russia has released footage of live-fire range trials for a new unmanned ground combat system known as Kuryer, which is equipped with an automated mortar module designated as the Bagunlnik-82. The video, published by the NRTK channel focused on Russian ground robotics development, reveals a tracked vehicle featuring a rotating turret that integrates an 82mm mortar and an automatic loading system.

The Bagunlnik-82 module had not been publicly identified prior to the release of this footage on April 6, 2026. According to reporting from Defence Blog, the system utilizes a mechanical arm to reload the weapon in approximately five seconds after each shot. This capability suggests the platform is designed to maintain a sustained rate of fire while removing the need for a human mortar crew to be present on-site, thereby reducing their exposure to counter-battery strikes.

Technical Specifications and Design

The Kuryer platform is a tracked unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) and is part of a broader Russian initiative to develop unmanned ground combat complexes. A key feature of this specific configuration is the rotating turret, which allows the system to engage targets across a wider arc without the need to reposition the entire vehicle. This provides a tactical advantage during both offensive and defensive fire missions compared to fixed, forward-facing configurations.

While the exact origins of the Bagunlnik-82 are not fully confirmed, Defence Blog notes that the module may be based on the 2B24. The 2B24 is a lightweight 82mm mortar already used by Russian forces, and its compact design makes it suitable for integration into smaller robotic vehicles. It remains unclear if the module is an adaptation of the 2B24 or an entirely new design created specifically for the Kuryer platform.

Broader Context of Russian Robotic Warfare

The introduction of the robotic mortar system follows other deployments of the Kuryer platform. On November 19, 2025, Russian outlets released footage of a modified Courier UGV operating on the Sumy axis in Ukraine. That version of the system was fitted with a roof-mounted Shmel thermobaric rocket module, which uses a remotely operated, sensor-guided launcher to deliver short-range incendiary or blast-focused strikes.

These developments indicate a shift toward utilizing small unmanned ground vehicles for diverse combat roles. The deployment of the flamethrower robot in November 2025, as reported by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, showed the tracked vehicle striking positions within a tree line, signaling an experimental push into robotic warfare.

The acceleration of these programs occurs as Russia faces mounting losses and observes the impact of ground combat drones. Ukraine was the first to deploy ground combat drones at scale, a factor that has influenced the current Russian trajectory toward unmanned ground combat systems.