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Zhang Tong

Researchers in China have developed a fully modular, intelligent electric-drive heavy-duty vehicle that could be used as a mobile launcher for an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The researchers said the vehicle could “crab walk” through tight or obstructed terrain that would defeat conventional launchers and its near-silent operation improved its stealth abilities.
A prototype was unveiled in Beijing on December 21, less than two years after the project was approved in January 2024 as a major initiative under the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Led by Tsinghua University, the project brought together research institutes that included the Beijing Institute of Launch Vehicle Technology, Jilin University, Beijing Institute of Technology, and Southeast University.
According to the project outline, the researchers set out to develop a technology that could potentially reshape heavy-load logistics, one that could move large rocket bodies, transformers, wind turbines and other massive loads safely and efficiently.
The researchers said the new-configuration prototype was “a world first” that fundamentally overturned conventional design by integrating electric drive with intelligent control.


Powered entirely by electricity, the vehicle is near-silent, emits no exhaust smoke and produces a minimal heat signature. These improved stealth features would allow it to operate covertly and increase its survival rate during critical launch operations.
The vehicle has been built on a modular concept and can be scaled up or down by adding and removing wheel modules, according to a report on the Tsinghua University website.
This means it can transport everything from ICBMs to large rocket stages with optimal efficiency.
By expanding or reducing the number of wheel modules – designed to work like building blocks – the prototype’s load capacity could be adjusted according to transport needs, overcoming the limitation of traditional fixed axle and wheel configurations.
Heavy-duty specialised vehicles are crucial for national defence systems, where they frequently provide logistical support, transport heavy weaponry and serve as missile launch platforms.
Unlike traditional vehicles – with their fixed axles and rigid connections that constrain them to large turning circles and poor terrain adaptability – the prototype has achieved what the developers called a “full decoupling” of its wheels from all mechanical linkages.
Each wheel independently handles driving, braking, steering and suspension functions, which are coordinated through an intelligent electronic control system. The result was a vehicle that could perform crablike lateral movements and travel diagonally, they said.
The prototype is also capable of “centre steering” – pivoting around its own centre to drastically reduce its turning radius and enabling remarkable manoeuvrability in confined spaces, according to the developers.
The control logic manages each wheel’s torque and steering, allowing the vehicle to steadily ascend steep slopes in a zigzag pattern, opening up previously inaccessible terrain.




According to the report, the control mechanism also improves the vehicle’s autonomous recovery ability in extreme conditions, in addition to its improved mobility and braking safety.
The software-controlled electric-drive tyres suppress roll and pitch for better stability at high speeds and on winding routes. Each wheel is driven by its own motor, delivering maximum torque from start-up for advantages in starting, climbing and extrication.
The elimination of complex mechanical components such as gearboxes and steering linkages also greatly reduces potential failure points, according to the developers. If one motor fails, others will continue working, maintaining operations.
The quiet operation in pure electric mode also makes the vehicle better suited for military operations or urban transport uses, according to the developers, who completed development and roll-out in just two years.
Academic and government experts praised the team’s work, saying it could reshape the future of special-purpose vehicles and even transform the fundamentals of vehicle engineering, the report said.
The technology has been added to the latest iteration of the country’s new energy vehicle technology road map, released in October by the China Society of Automotive Engineers, with derivative models scheduled for ground transport of future aerospace equipment.
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In less than two years, scientists have developed a technology that ‘fundamentally overturns’ conventional heavy-vehicle design


In less than two years, scientists have developed a technology that ‘fundamentally overturns’ conventional heavy-vehicle design.


Nuclear game changer: China builds crab-walking electric ICBM mobile launcher prototype

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}In less than two years, scientists have developed a technology that ‘fundamentally overturns’ conventional heavy-vehicle design

In less than two years, scientists have developed a technology that ‘fundamentally overturns’ conventional heavy-vehicle design