The enemy has turned Chinese ATVs into remote-controlled ground-based robotic complexes

The occupiers are converting Chinese-made all-terrain vehicles into remotely controlled combat platforms, seeking to reduce the influence of troops and adapt commercial technologies for use in the war against Ukraine, Defence Blog reports.

For example, the enemy 36th Guards Combined Arms Army's "East" group uses a remotely controlled fiber optic cable laying system built on the Desertcross 1000-3 ATV platform. This is civilian equipment designed for recreation.

It is noted that the system can lay up to 5 km of fiber-optic communication cable over various types of terrain.

The Desertcross 1000-3 has four-wheel drive and a 72 horsepower gasoline engine. There is a 50-liter fuel tank on board. The machine has a total weight of 916 kg and can carry up to 300 kg of cargo.

The remote control system is also assembled from commercially available components and contains parts manufactured using 3D printing technology. For example, in the photo you can see a standard radio control unit Radiomaster TX -12, which is widely used to control various types of drones.

Also, according to the publication, the enemy has purchased thousands of Desertcross units in China and is using them not only for logistical tasks, but also during assaults on Ukrainian positions.

It is worth noting that at the end of 2023, the then Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu showed off the Chinese UTV DesertCross 1000−3 ATVs. At that time, it was announced that the Russian army would receive 1,590 of these vehicles by the end of 2024. In addition, these vehicles were among the column of Russian attack aircraft near Staromlynivka at the end of the same 2023.