The Russian military has unveiled a new drone-resistant tank, which has gained the nickname “turtle tank” due to its heavy shell-like armor and low mobility. While heavy artillery can stop the advance of these turtle tanks, Ukrainian forces have run desperately low on artillery and heavy munitions.
Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan dives into the details of how these tanks work, what vulnerabilities they have, and how military technology is evolving as a whole.
The following is an excerpt from Peter’s May 3 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:
The Russians are playing dress up with their tanks and it might reveal where the future of military conflict is heading. Okay, “dress up” might not be the right term, but just Google a picture of the Russian turtle tanks to get an idea of what I’m talking about.
These tanks are being equipped with heavy armor to defend against the drone attacks that have become popular in the Ukraine war. This innovation reflects a larger shift in warfare strategies, as countries like Ukraine have had to come up with new (and cheaper) ways of striking targets.
Innovations like the turtle tanks are a great example of the adaptations in modern warfare. However, as aid and support hit Ukraine, we’ll likely see a new round of innovations emerge onto the scene.