Russian Paratroopers Airdrop Kurier UGV from an Il-76 for the First Time During Center-2026 Exercises

During the Center-2026 strategic command-and-staff exercises, Russian paratroopers airdropped the Kurier ground-based robotic complex from an Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft for the first time.

The Russian Ministry of Defense published a video of the airdrop.

The system was dropped from about 600 meters on a P-7 parachute platform.

The operators of these systems had previously landed in the mission area, after which they took control of the robotic vehicles.

According to the exercise scenario, the robots were to operate behind enemy lines.

They were intended to provide fire support for assault units, deliver ammunition and supplies, evacuate the wounded, and destroy road infrastructure.

During one exercise, the Kurier was deployed to provide fire support for an assault group. A 7.62-mm machine gun was mounted on the system. According to a Russian operator, after landing, the robot requires about three to five minutes to prepare for the mission.

Separately, during the exercises, reconnaissance teams parachuted from an An-26 aircraft at an altitude of 6,000 meters.

The troops used special Stayer parachute systems equipped with oxygen apparatus. After jumping, they glided more than 17 km and landed behind enemy lines.

In addition to Kurier, the Omich-2 and Bogomol-7V ground-based robotic systems also participated in the exercises.

Militarnyi previously reported that in the Chelyabinsk region, the Russians conducted exercises to repel external aggression and establish a security zone on the territory of a Central Asian country.

After repelling the main assault in the South Ural direction, the troops went on the offensive to liberate the occupied territory and establish a security zone in the adjacent territory.

UGV Kurier

UGV Kurier is a Russian multi-purpose ground robot on a tracked chassis with remote control. Its design allows for the installation of various equipment and weapons depending on the mission.

According to publicly available data, the base version measures about 1.4 × 1.2 × 0.58 m, weighs up to 250 kg, and can reach speeds up to 35 km/h. The control range is 3 to 10 km, and the operational endurance is up to 72 hours.

The Kurier delivers ammunition, food, and other cargo; evacuates the wounded; conducts reconnaissance; and lays mines. For combat missions, the robot is equipped with various weapons, including a 7.62-mm PKTM machine gun, 12.7-mm NSVT or Kord machine guns, and AGS-17 and AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers. In 2025, the Ignis laser system was also tested on the Kurier platform to destroy mines at distances up to 150 m.

We also recommend reading this article: What Ground-Based Robotic Systems Is Russia Using in the War Against Ukraine?