Ukrainian drones are giving hell to Russian motorcycles

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As the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, we are seeing some strange developments on the battlefield. It is difficult to say whether such things could arise in future military conflicts, as many of the idiosyncrasies on the Russian side generally seem to be ridiculed, even by military experts. One of the latest developments is the way the Russian military is trying to protect motorcycles from drone attacks.

You can actually own this armored military truck.

From World War I onwards, motorcycles have played a role in many wars around the world. Small, agile and fast, they make excellent reconnaissance and fast attack vehicles, especially when equipped with an almost completely silent electric motor.

Russia used two-wheelers on the front with some effect until Ukraine turned to this method of attack. More recently, drone operators have been taking out these motorcycle crews in large numbers, forcing their opponents to pivot and try a new approach.

Videos showed some of the first versions of modified Russian military motorcycles, which reportedly originated in China and Belarus. The first wave has a high net at the back, supposedly to prevent suicide drones from sneaking up from behind and taking out the rider(s).

Things have evolved further, with some Russian motorcycles now carrying strange, armored shells that look not unlike the ‘turtle tanks’ built to protect against drone attacks as well. They look like something out of a movie about a dystopian future, which in a way is what Ukraine has become.

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Like the turtle tanks, these armored motorcycles are heavier, blunting the advantage of being fast and maneuverable. And like their tank brethren, they suffer from a general lack of visibility. That’s ironic, considering one of the best defenses soldiers have against drone attacks is their eyes.

While it’s laughable to see the foolish innovations the Russians are using that are clearly not turning out well, this war highlights an interesting fact: motorcycles remain important military equipment.

Yes, motorcycles don’t offer much protection for the rider(s), but they more than make up for it with their stealth, speed and maneuverability. In these modern times, military motorcycle units have to deal with a new generation of drones, which pose a real threat to them. But that also applies to tanks and other armored units.

Russia has even used armored golf carts and other strange contraptions, which have been shown to be vulnerable to drone attacks. So the drone problem for motorcycle attacks is not unique.

But to be clear, we don’t think turtle motorcycles will be a viable military invention.

Image via Kanal13/YouTube