China Reveals ‘Crab-Walking’ Heavy Vehicle Eyed as ICBM Launcher

Jan 2, 2026 12:27 PMPublished Jan 2, 2026 12:27 PM

Crab-walking heavy vehicle is a fully electric, modular platform with independent wheel drive, center-axis steering, sideways and diagonal movement, near-silent operation, low heat signature, and the ability to scale wheel modules for extreme loads.

China has pulled the curtain back on a “crab-walking” heavy vehicle prototype, reportedly being eyed for transporting, positioning, and potentially launching intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

At the heart of the design is a modular wheel system that allows engineers to scale the platform by adding or removing wheel units to handle a wide range of loads.

Moving away from fixed axles and rigid mechanical connections, each wheel can operate independently for propulsion, braking, steering, and suspension.

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