"We are developing a future combat system. A single chassis can be used to create a fighting module comprising a tank or two, a fire support vehicle or two and two to three heavy infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) or armored personnel carriers (APC) carrying an infantry squad. The same platform can be used for developing a command vehicle and a support vehicle," he said.

According to Uralvagonzavod’s deputy CEO, the approach will alter the organization of basic Army units - motor-rifle and tank companies operating together only in battle. "Transition should be made to a different organization comprised of integral self-contained combat modules, rather than platoons and companies," Khalitov said.

"It should be a single indivisible module trained under a single curriculum and capable of self-contained operations," he added.

According to Khalitov, the schedule of deriving a robotic tank from the T-90 fits the Russian Defense Ministry’s 2030 robotics development concept, with developing specifically combat robots being not quite effective. It has emerged that Uralvagonzavod is planning to outfit the T-90 tank with remote control.

Khalitov explained that the work is "under the Russian Defense Ministry programs", particularly the ministry-approved 2030 robotics development concept and 2024 integrated robotics development program. "I would agree to the development of a scout robot for a tank unit, mine-clearing robots and, certainly, special-purpose robots, but it is not quite reasonable to develop combat robots from scratch," he stressed.

According to Khalitov, armored fighting vehicles mounting the Baikal fighting module with a 57-mm gun will be derived from the T-72 and T-90 tanks. "We will mount the Baikal module on the T-72 and T-90 chasses. It will be a unique fire support vehicle owing to its 57-mm high-velocity gun and ammunition load.

It will immediately provide the multifunction capability and, hence, an effective counter to air threats, such UAVs, and to ground robotic systems as well," Khalitov said.