Russia is accelerating the deployment of autonomous robots in its nuclear industry to reduce costs and secure its global industrial technological sovereignty.
In summary
The Russian nuclear complex, led by the state-owned giant Rosatom, is undergoing a major technological transformation by massively integrating robotics and artificial intelligence. This strategy aims to automate critical tasks—welding, ultrasonic inspection, and maintenance in irradiated environments—across more than 30 large-scale projects. The objective is twofold: to compensate for the shortage of skilled labor and to reduce reactor construction times, a crucial competitive advantage for exports. With groundbreaking innovations such as the spider robot for tank inspection, Russia is seeking to free itself from Western components. Despite budget adjustments, the massive investment of 553 billion rubles (approximately $7.5 billion) in new nuclear technologies by 2030 underscores an iron will. This technological shift strengthens Moscow’s position as a leader in civil nuclear power, capable of delivering complex infrastructure with increased operational efficiency, while extending its geopolitical influence through energy dependence.
The technological leap in Russian nuclear robotics
Nuclear robotics refers to all automated and remotely operated systems designed to operate in extreme environments where human presence is impossible or dangerous. These machines must withstand intense ionizing radiation, high temperatures, and sometimes total immersion. Unlike conventional industrial robotics, these devices incorporate specific shielding and hardened electronic components.
Their operation is based on an architecture combining advanced sensors, high-precision actuators and, increasingly, artificial intelligence algorithms. The robots perform measurements, welding, or non-destructive inspections with a consistency that the human eye cannot guarantee. In Russia, this technology is no longer limited to research laboratories. It is now integrated directly into the production lines of reactor components, such as at Atommash, where the precision of the machines ensures the conformity of the containment structures.
Strategic expansion led by Rosatom
The state-owned Rosatom group recently announced the expansion of robotics use across its entire value chain. Russia is currently deploying automated solutions on 30 major construction sites. These robots are used to transport sensitive materials, perform high-precision welding, and carry out systematic quality control.
One of the most tangible benefits is time savings. The use of welding robots for heat exchangers and pumping equipment has halved execution times. Overall, Rosatom estimates that automation saves around 500,000 working hours per year. This increased productivity is spearheading Russia’s strategy to dominate the global nuclear power plant construction market by offering lead times that its Western competitors struggle to match.
Concrete examples of new-generation machines
The flagship of this new metal army is undoubtedly the spider robot launched in 2025. This hexapod device is designed for ultrasonic inspection of welds on steam generators and reactor vessels. Its ability to move over curved and complex surfaces, with steel thicknesses of up to 30 centimeters (11.8 inches), allows it to detect micro-cracks invisible to the naked eye.
Another striking example is the development of remote handling systems for the Mayak complex. These robots are dedicated to the management of highly radioactive waste and the dismantling of old facilities. By replacing humans in these death zones, Russia is drastically reducing the radiation doses received by personnel, while speeding up the decontamination process.
These machines use computer vision to identify and sort materials with millimeter precision.
Supply chain autonomy and resilience
The issue of autonomy is central to the Kremlin in a context of extreme geopolitical tensions. Can Russia do without Western technology for its robots? The answer is nuanced but tends toward increasing sovereignty. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has lowered localization requirements for certain components in order to support local manufacturers, but national integration is progressing.
The Rosatom Service subsidiary is working closely with companies such as Technored to standardize robotic solutions. While some advanced microprocessors have historically been imported, Moscow is investing heavily in its own foundry and software design capabilities. The goal is to create a closed ecosystem where the design, manufacture, and maintenance of robots are carried out on Russian soil, ensuring that no sanctions can paralyze national energy production or export contracts.
Funding and budgetary reality
The financial support for this ambition is colossal, although subject to economic realities. President Vladimir Putin has approved the extension of the nuclear technology development program with a total budget of 553 billion rubles (approximately $7.5 billion) until 2030. This amount covers not only robotics, but also new-generation reactors and closed fuel cycles.
However, adjustments have been made. In 2025, the annual allocation for the federal industrial robotics project was reduced to 3.9 billion rubles, down from the 5.6 billion originally planned. This reduction is forcing manufacturers to become more efficient. Despite this, the cost of automated welding systems has fallen: a unit that cost 18 million rubles in 2019 is now produced for 3.5 million rubles, with a rapid return on investment in just a few months.
Civil applications and lunar prospects
The uses of Russian nuclear robotics now extend beyond the walls of terrestrial power plants. An ambitious project led by Roscosmos and Rosatom aims to install a nuclear power station on the Moon by 2036. This system, scheduled for deployment between 2033 and 2035, will require fully autonomous robots capable of building and maintaining energy production infrastructure without direct human intervention.
On Earth, robotics also helps optimize the operation of Project 22220 class nuclear icebreakers, which are essential for the Northern Sea Route. Here, robots monitor reactor compartments in extreme weather conditions, ensuring continuous navigation in Arctic ice. This synergy between nuclear power, robotics, and sovereign logistics puts Russia in an unprecedented position of strength.
Domination through precision technology
Russia’s strategy no longer relies solely on the brute force of its natural resources, but on a sophisticated mastery of complex automation. By integrating digital twins and artificial intelligence into its robots, Rosatom is reducing the human errors that have historically plagued the nuclear industry.
This technical precision is becoming a major selling point for countries in the Global South seeking turnkey energy solutions.
The efficiency of welding robots and automated inspectors ensures increased infrastructure longevity, extended to 60 or 80 years for modern VVER-1200 reactors. By automating quality control, Moscow ensures that its products meet the most stringent international standards, while maintaining a competitive cost structure thanks to a drastic reduction in the labor required during critical construction phases.
The future of Russian nuclear power will necessarily involve a total hybridization of heavy engineering and autonomous digital systems. Moscow’s ability to maintain its lead will depend on its capacity to transform these massive investments into an everyday industrial reality, capable of withstanding external pressures while pushing the boundaries of space exploration and global energy security.
Sources:
National Interest, Nuclear Energy Now: Russia Expands Its Use of Nuclear Robotics, 2026.
World Nuclear News, Spider robot speeds up weld inspection times, Rosatom says, 2025.
American Nuclear Society, Rosatom deploys robotic spider for reactor weld inspections, 2025.
Rosatom Newsletter, The Power of Digital Solutions, 2025.
Nucnet, Putin Approves Rosatom Request For Nuclear Development Budget Increase, 2021.
Nuclear Engineering International, Russia’s nuclear industry looks to robots, 2023.
IAEA, AI in the Nuclear Industry: The Experience of Rosatom, 2025.
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