Russia is certainly proving that it has some interesting ways of protecting its aircraft against enemies. In recent news, the country’s aerospace forces have reportedly been equipping some of their military aircraft with car tires in an effort to defend them against Ukrainian drones.
The news source, Godzillanewz, reported that the Russian Air Force is cover some of their military aircraft in old car tires as a measure of protection against Ukrainian drone strikes. The tires reportedly help to absorb some of the impact in the event of a direct hit, making the aircraft more resilient and, consequently, less vulnerable to damage.
The tires are said to be applied directly to the aircraft, covering the surface in an interesting yet effective way. The idea is that the tires can potentially stop incoming projectiles such as missiles and bombs, reducing the impact and minimizing the damage.
The method is not new–other countries have employed similar strategies in the past. South Korea, for example, has been using tires to protect its military helicopters from North Korean drone attacks. However, this appears to be the first time that Russia has adopted this particular tactic.
Despite the interesting use of car tires to protect its aircraft, the Russian Air Force appears to have no shortage of support. Just last year, the country successfully signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to buy 46 new aircraft, according to Aerothermics Avion.
It appears that Russia is no stranger to finding cost effective and interesting ways to protect its military assets. The country’s aerospace forces have certainly come up with a creative solution to the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes. Whether or not the tires will actually prove effective is yet to be seen, but given the cost-saving benefits of the method, there is no doubt that Russia will be giving it a try.
