Electronic missile bicycles help Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield

Motorcycles have taken place on battlefields around the world since the beginning of the mechanized war, and even today, in Russia’s war with Ukraine, we find that electric bikes make a difference at the forefront.

For example, the electronic bike of the Ukrainian company Delfast, Top 3.0, a hybrid motorcycle / bicycle that can be attributed to the enduro moped, is currently used by Ukrainian fighters. It has an impressive range of up to 200 miles on a single charge. And even more impressive? It can be equipped to carry missile launchers.

As reported Electric crackle, Kiev electronic bikes Delfast are used by the Ukrainian ground forces to transport next-generation light armored weapons (NLAWs), given that Javelin anti-tank missiles, which are light, line-of-sight, firearms from the shoulder, front line. Remember how you saw all these burned Russian tanks on Ukrainian roads? These electronic bikes may be partly to blame.

Delfast bikes are fairly neat cars equipped with 3,000-watt electric motors that provide a peak power of 6,000 watts, plus 134 ft-pound (182 nm) of torque, which means a top speed of 50 miles per hour, as well as many useful directions. And with the exception of the potential noise of belts and tires, these bikes, equipped with motorcycle tires, are very quiet, which is a major advantage when a soldier maneuvers in the field of view of enemy troops.

Delfast CEO and co-founder Daniel Tonkopij shared some of the feedback received from the soldiers: “The bike was great and can really work for mobile teams. The plans are to use it for reconnaissance and with equipment for working on tanks. “

Being relatively light (154 lbs), the Delfast electronic bike is very maneuverable and can handle rough terrain thanks to the eight-inch ride provided by the adjustable KKE fork and rear shock absorber. A true hybrid, the Top has pedal assistance as well as regenerative charging during braking and rolling. Some police officers in Mexico City, the capital of Bach, have been using Delfast Top electronic bikes since 2020, dubbed Top Cops.

Another Ukrainian company, ELEEK, supplies similar electronic bikes to fighters on the front line, including snipers who appreciate these machines for their stealth and ability to reach sturdy outposts. Bicycles commissioned by Ukrainian troops, the company has identified units of the “Atomic Military”. The ELEEK website claims that the Atom models can develop a top speed of 62 miles per hour (100 km / h) and can travel up to 93 miles (150 km) on a single charge.

Both electronic bicycles used by Ukrainian fighters are designed to handle heavy payloads compared to their light weight (also indicated by the Atom weight of 154 pounds), and military versions are also equipped with a 220V output, which allows you to charge from any standard outlet. Another significant advantage is the smaller thermal signature of these small electronic vehicles, which makes them harder to detect by Russian drones equipped with thermal imaging.

It’s nice to see how these innovative motorcycles are helping Ukraine resist the Russian invasion, but electronic bikes aren’t new to military arsenals. In 2020, we reported the use of New Zealand Defense Forces electric bicycles built UBCO, while Norway equips its border patrol with electronic bicycles with thick tires. One of the coolest e-bike operations is in the UAE, where Black Hawk helicopters are being installed side mounting Zero FX motorcycles.

Of course, many other electronic vehicle technologies are being tested by the military around the world and are kept secret. In fact, the director general of Delfast said: “We have been providing the Ukrainian army with electric bicycles since the first day of the war. We moved the electric bikes to the front line, but we didn’t talk about it – we do some things quietly. ” Ukraine’s military command has only recently allowed electronic bike companies to publish photos of what bicycles are used for.

Somehow silent, off-road moped, capable of accelerating more than 50 miles per hour, sounds both exciting and horrible. Interestingly, Delfast is now headquartered in Southern California, and units will be available in the States this summer. Top 3.0 starts at $ 6,599, and no, in its list of options you won’t find missile launchers.

Author: Jamie Elwig

Jamie has been a motorcycle journalist for over 30 years, testing the entire range of bikes for major print magazines and specializing in adventure travel stories. To date, she has written and provided photographs for articles describing what it is like to travel in all 50 states and 43 foreign countries, receiving along the way two awards from American travel writer Lowell Thomas. Her most challenging adventure was participating in the GS Trophy 2018 in Mongolia as a journalist for the AusAmerica team.