[Military Story] Russia Struggled in 'Urban Warfare'... Our Military Leads with Drones and Robots in 'Urban Warfare Sting'

Visiting the Army's 39th Infantry Division Blocking Rear Area Infiltration
Deploying Drones for Reconnaissance Before Wheeled Armored Vehicles Move Out

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Russia is struggling in the Ukraine war. The reason is urban warfare. Russian President Vladimir Putin deployed 49,000 reservists recruited through a partial mobilization order in September last year to capture major cities, but has failed to achieve results. This situation resembles the urban warfare the Russian army fought against militias in Chechnya 10 years ago. In wartime, urban warfare is considered a key battlefield that can announce victory both domestically and internationally and tactically cut off supply routes. To learn about our military’s urban warfare training, we visited the 39th Infantry Division under the Army’s 2nd Operations Command located in Haman County, Gyeongsangnam-do on the 2nd.

The Army’s 39th Infantry Division is tasked with blocking enemies infiltrating the rear area. The most eye-catching feature here was the wheeled armored vehicles in the urban combat training ground, which looked like city buildings had been moved intact. These are K806 armored vehicles supplied for the regional defense division under the 2nd Operations Command. The domestically developed K806 armored vehicle can travel at a maximum speed of 100 km/h. It is equipped with an automatic tire pressure control system, making it capable of traversing rough terrain without issues. It also carries smoke grenades.

The underside of the armored vehicle is designed to withstand anti-personnel mines and small improvised explosive devices (IEDs). When an IED detonates under the vehicle, fragments are deflected outward from the vehicle floor. IEDs are weapons made by attaching various remote devices or detonators to conventional explosives such as shells, bombs, or gasoline. They use objects that are difficult to recognize as explosives, such as trash cans, PET bottles, or dead dogs. The U.S. military also supplies Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to counter IEDs. Lieutenant Colonel Ahn Jae-yeol, commander of the mobile battalion, said, “The 39th Division’s mission area has a dense road network, so using wheeled armored vehicles improves mobility. With reconnaissance by drones and soldiers equipped with Warrior Platforms deployed, victory in urban warfare is assured.”

After the explanation ended, a drone began flying with a “wing” sound at the edge of the urban combat training ground. The drone circled around buildings at an altitude of 40 meters, then flew low through gaps between buildings before exiting again. The drone’s low-altitude dive from above resembled an eagle snatching its prey. After the risky flight, the drone seemed to have fully identified enemy movements inside the buildings. The drone operator observed enemy movements as clearly as reading palm lines from 200 meters away from the building.

After the drone completed reconnaissance, a wheeled armored vehicle began charging from 100 meters away. The first wheeled armored vehicle passed through the urban combat training ground and took position on the outskirts. It monitored the front with a 7.62mm machine gun to block enemy reinforcements. Soldiers from the 39th Division’s mobile battalion exited from the rear of the armored vehicle and aimed rifles forward. This was an armament not seen before. They carried K-1 rifles equipped with Warrior Platforms, including scopes, magnifiers, and target designators. Equipping the Warrior Platform makes the target appear larger, increasing hit accuracy.

The second wheeled armored vehicle stopped near the building where the enemy had infiltrated to provide follow-up support for the first deployed mobile battalion soldiers. The third wheeled armored vehicle advanced right up to the building where the enemy had penetrated. Soldiers wearing black combat uniforms exited the vehicle. They were members of the Military Police Special Mission Unit (Special Task Force). Eight Special Task Force members formed a snake formation (a long, snake-like line) and began entering the building. The Special Task Force members kicked down the door and moved swiftly. When they shouted “clear! clear (mission accomplished),” the lead members ascended to the second floor and began eliminating enemies. Lieutenant Jo Seok-jae, Special Task Team Leader, said, “Previously, counterterrorism units prepared for urban warfare on their own. Now, joint training with units equipped with manned-unmanned combined combat systems (troops, drones, robots) allows us to be protected from the enemy and focus solely on the mission.”

The traditional urban warfare pattern involved artillery fire support followed by tanks or armored vehicles leading the way. Infantry was deployed to directly confront and fight the enemy. Human casualties and equipment losses were inevitable. However, the Army, equipped with drone-robot (a combination of drone and robot) combat systems and Warrior Platforms, has changed. It is like the “poison needle” of urban warfare. At the center of this is the 39th Division’s mobile battalion soldiers.