Russia Delivers IMR-3M Obstacle-Clearing Vehicles to Defense Ministry

Russia has handed over another batch of IMR-3M obstacle-clearing engineering vehicles to the country’s defense ministry, strengthening engineer units involved in ongoing combat operations in Ukraine.

Rostec subsidiary Uralvagonzavod announced today that the vehicles were shipped ahead of Russian Engineer Troops Day. The IMR-3M is based on the T-90 main battle tank platform and is used by Russian forces in Ukraine.

The latest vehicles incorporate modifications based on combat experience and operational feedback. The IMR-3M is equipped with electronic countermeasure systems and additional counter-drone protection, reflecting the growing threat posed by drones on the battlefield.

A Russian defense ministry official said deliveries continued throughout 2025 and will carry on in 2026. The official said the IMR-3M plays a key role in breaching enemy defenses and noted that its shared mobility systems and controls with the T-90 allow tank crews to operate it without additional training.

The IMR-3M is designed to clear minefields, remove rubble, breach roadblocks, fill ditches, fell trees, and open routes through snow-covered or heavily damaged terrain. It can also be used to clear debris from damaged shelters and infrastructure.

The vehicle features a sealed hull that allows crews to operate in environments contaminated by radiation, toxic gases, chemical agents, smoke, or dust, without additional protective equipment.

Russian officials frequently cite the use of earlier T-72-based obstacle-clearing vehicles during the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, where they were deployed to remove radioactive debris, clear contaminated soil, and support construction of the reactor sarcophagus.

Classified as a third-generation obstacle-clearing vehicle, the IMR-3M includes a hydraulically operated multipurpose blade with variable configurations. Its 360-degree rotating telescopic boom can function as a manipulator, grader, shovel, or ripper, while a track-width mine plow with an electromagnetic attachment enables mine-clearing operations.

The IMR-3M is operated by a two-person crew and weighs up to 49.5 tonnes when fitted with a mine plow. It is powered by an 840-horsepower engine, has a top road speed of 60 km/h, and a cruising range of 500 km. Armament includes a 12.7 mm KORD heavy machine gun for engaging ground and low-flying aerial targets.

Russian officials say the vehicle is intended for supporting advancing troops in areas damaged by nuclear, chemical, or conventional weapons, as well as for disaster response and rescue operations following industrial accidents or natural catastrophes, including incidents at nuclear power plants.