The Russian invasion forces are using many Chinese Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicles during the war with Ukraine. They look like golf carts, but in terms of functionality and capabilities, they are actually buggies.

In this article, we will research how these wheeled vehicles are assisting the Russian forces at the front lines.

Desertcross all-terrain vehicles were first spotted in Ukraine in November 2023: almost over a year since the Russians have been using them at the front lines.

In the fall 2023, the aggressor country’s Ministry of Defense stated that more than 500 Desertcross 1000-3s had already been delivered to the troops. As of December 2024, there were at least 2,000 units.

Desertcross 1000-3

The Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicle is a lightweight vehicle on a two-axle all-wheel drive chassis. It can carry three passengers and some cargo. Various units and components can be added at the request of the customer to the initial design.

The vehicle holds an intermediate position between ATVs and full-fledged cars, and is capable of successfully solving a wide range of tasks and moving over rough terrain. Russians consider it mostly as a vehicle for reconnaissance and patrol operations, raids and search and rescue operations, as well as for logistics needs.

The Desertcross 1000-3 has an open body with a frame and cladding on which all other elements are installed. In its front part is the hood, which in some configurations can be used as a small loading platform. Behind it is a three-seat crew cabin, and a full-fledged cargo platform is located at the rear.

The Russians say that unlike the basic model, which weighs 850 kg and can carry loads up to 300 kilograms, the vehicles for the occupation army have improved characteristics.

The total length of the Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicle is 3.4 m, the width is 1.8 m, height is 1.9 m with a ground clearance of 305 mm. The curb weight of the vehicle as equipped for the Russian army is 1050 kg. Fuel tank capacity is 48 liters.

The payload is 550 kg, and it is possible to tow a trailer weighing up to 300 kilograms. This is quite enough to transport trailer mortars with small ammunition.

The cab can accommodate up to three people, including the driver. The manufacturer offers two removable seats that can be installed on the cargo platform to transport more people. The Russian army buys all-terrain vehicles with a soft-closed cabin with glazing and a heating system.

Most all-terrain vehicles supplied to the Russian army are delivered with additional modifications. The invaders wanted to equip the vehicles with reinforced front bumpers and rubber fenders. The vehicle is also equipped with a winch with a pulling force of more than 2 tons.

The Desertcross 1000-3 can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h on the highway and has a range of 250 km. It can also cross fords no deeper than 400 mm. It is powered by a two-cylinder liquid-cooled gasoline V-twin engine with 87 horsepower.

The transmission is based on a variator and wheel differentials. It is possible to use rear and all-wheel drive.

The suspension of the front and rear axles is based on A-arms with vertical springs and hydropneumatic dampers. The rear axle is also equipped with a stabilizer. The Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicles are equipped with 27-inch wheels.

Manufacturer

The all-terrain vehicle is manufactured by the Chinese manufacturer Shandong Odes Industry Co., Ltd (Aodes). It’s not a military product and is generally positioned by the manufacturer as a tourist and entertainment wheeled all-terrain vehicle.

The company is headquartered in Shandong, China. The Aodes brand is also registered in the United States and produces other motor vehicles, including ATVs. In addition, it produces engines and transmissions for ATVs and snowmobiles that are installed on equipment from other manufacturers.

The Chinese company has a full range of production, service and sales of all-terrain vehicles with research and development teams from the U.S., Europe and China.

Sanctions

In December 2023, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAPC) of Ukraine added the Chinese all-terrain vehicle manufacturer Shandong Odes Industry Co., Ltd to the list of international sponsors of the war for the supply of Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicles to the Russian army.

This Chinese company continues to actively supply other vehicles to Russia and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to the budget of the aggressor country.

Aodes has been supplying its products to Russia since 2021. The Russian office consists of more than 60 dealerships that sell and provide maintenance service for ATVs, all-terrain vehicles, and golf carts of its own production.

Desertcross 1000-3 on the front line

The all-terrain vehicles are mainly used to transport personnel and small loads (ammunition, food) to positions, evacuate the killed and wounded, and increasingly during assaults on Ukrainian positions.

As of mid-November 2023, the Russian army had 537 units of Desertcross 1000-3s, and another 1,590 units were to be delivered by the end of March 2024. Other procurements are not yet known, but are likely ongoing.

Protection

Due to its small size, the Desertcross 1000-3 can’t be protected by armor, or equipped with heavy weaponry. However, it can be used to transport personnel for anti-tank missile systems (ATMS) or man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), as well as other infantry weapons such as heavy machine guns or automatic grenade launchers.

After receiving the first batches of these Chinese all-terrain vehicles and using them at the front lines, the Russians began modernizing them by retrofitting various components, including installing “grills,” the main task of which was to protect the vehicle and crew from FPV drones and UAVs equipped with payload drops.

In addition, some of the vehicles that the Russians hoped to use in the assault were equipped with smoke grenade launchers, which were supposed to obscure their movement if detected by Ukrainian defenders. The vehicles can also be outfitted with camouflage paint and nets to enhance concealment.

The Desertcross 1000-3 is also equipped with electronic warfare (EW) systems to counter FPVs and other drones, which are currently the most effective means of defeating these Chinese all-terrain vehicles on or near the contact line.

However, this protection often proves ineffective. The Ukrainian military has repeatedly published videos and photos of Russian infantry traveling in these vehicles being destroyed. The lack of armor and lightweight design do not provide protection against small arms bullets. And hitting an anti-tank mine or a landmine guarantees the destruction of the all-terrain vehicle and the soldiers inside.

Why not cars?

The cost of the vehicle in the basic configuration for the Russian army was 1.58 million rubles, in the modified configuration, it was 2.1 million (more than $20.5 thousand).

This raises the question of why Russians don’t buy their own SUVs instead of Chinese buggies.

Compared to the Chinese manufacturer, the Russian Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant currently offers off-road vehicles such as the UAZ Hunter at a price of 1.3 million rubles ($12.8 thousand) or the UAZ Patriot at about 1.5 million rubles ($14.8 thousand). These brands are well known to Russian customers and can be easily maintained or repaired by local specialists.

Another Russian manufacturer, AvtoVAZ, offers a Niva SUV for $10-12 thousand, depending on the configuration. Prices are not fixed and may fluctuate against the dollar due to constant changes in the ruble’s value. For instance, as of December, the ruble has weakened against the dollar.

It is worth noting here that, likely, in the case of a large government order, the cars would have been cheaper. All of this may indicate that there are corruption markups on Chinese all-terrain vehicles, or that the Russians do not trust the quality of their own vehicles so much that they refuse to supply them en masse to military units fighting against Ukraine.

A vehicle of the front line

The Russians use Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicles as light front-line vehicles. The concept of such vehicles was developed back in the Soviet Union in the mid-1950s and 1960s under the designation “front line transporter.” The result was a compact amphibious army off-road vehicle, the LUAZ-967. And unlike the Chinese buggy, it could move on water and land.

The transporter was a lightweight open cargo and passenger four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicle designed to operate in difficult road conditions. The driver’s seat was located in the middle of the vehicle. Behind him, with his back to the direction of travel, was a medic’s seat, and to the right and left of the crew members, two stretchers with the wounded could be installed or two passengers could be accommodated. The steering column could be reclined, allowing the driver to drive the vehicle while lying down.

The backrests of all the seats folded down flush with the floor, which made it possible to free up space for cargo. The vehicle had a kerb weight of 950 kg and a gross vehicle weight of 1350 kg. The height with the front window raised was 1600 mm. The ground clearance was 285 mm. The vehicle had a waterproof body with a 37-horsepower engine in the front, which provided a speed of 75 km/h when driving on the highway with the rear axle disconnected, which was connected on difficult terrain.

The vehicle was able to overcome small water obstacles, reaching a speed of up to 3 km/h afloat due to the movement of the wheels. The LUAZ-967 could also be landed by parachute without a special platform.

Training

In December 2024, the aggressor country’s Ministry of Defense announced that Russia had begun training drivers on Chinese-made Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicles. The creation of a training center indicates the standardization of approaches to the operation, maintenance and use of this equipment.

The extreme driving track was set up at one of the training grounds. There, instructors conducted training sessions with Russian military personnel involved in hostilities against Ukraine.

It is stated that during the training, the Russians performed various obstacle driving exercises on Chinese all-terrain vehicles. The length of the training route was 5 kilometers.

Conclusion

The purchase of a significant number of Chinese golf carts by the Russians for use at the front lines, on the one hand, may indicate a lack of “classic” armored vehicles, such as APCs or IFVs, of which they have lost thousands since 2022 in battles with the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

On the other hand, these all-terrain vehicles also perform logistical tasks, which is cheaper than using armored vehicles. However, this also has its drawbacks: the lack of armor on the vehicles increases losses. Although, as you know, Russia does not value the lives of its soldiers and therefore this aspect is not important to them.

Ukrainian defenders have been destroying these vehicles for over a year. They do this by using FPV drones and UAVs equipped with payload drops when the invaders move Desertcross 1000-3 near the contact line or try to deliver assaultmen near Ukrainian positions.

The organization of training for the drivers of these all-terrain vehicles indicates that the Russians expect to continue purchasing and using them in combat. This will require the Ukrainian army to spend drones and ammunition to destroy them.