When Air Defense Fails, Add Spikes: Russia’s “Hedgehog” Van Hits the Front, Video

In a recently surfaced video, Russian troops are seen modifying a Soviet-era UAZ-452 van with dozens of sharp metal spikes welded across the bodywork — creating a bizarre anti-drone armor concept now nicknamed the “Hedgehog.”

The footage shows the vehicle driving along a rural road, its frame bristling with metal rods protruding in every direction. The configuration is intended to intercept or prematurely detonate Ukrainian FPV drones before they can reach the hull.

The spikes act as a passive defense, hoping to trigger the explosive payload of an incoming drone on contact with the external armor.

The idea is to destroy the drone before a direct hit to the vehicle’s hull. Despite the unconventional appearance, the makeshift modification reflects a growing trend of improvised defense tactics on both sides of the front.

As FPV drones continue to dominate low-altitude airspace, simple vehicles like the UAZ-452 have become vulnerable targets.

The Russian military’s reliance on such outdated platforms, combined with limited access to active protection systems, is prompting increasingly improvised field solutions.

Earlier in June, Russian forces were seen repurposing a Soviet-era VAZ-1111 “Oka” — a compact car originally designed for disabled drivers and war veterans — into a mobile launch platform for suicide drones.

The vehicle was stripped of its doors and rear roof section, with a welded metal frame supporting the launch system for “Molniya”-type loitering munitions.

Once mocked as a “tin can on wheels” due to its weak engine and poor reliability, the Oka is now part of Russia’s improvised drone warfare strategy.

The system allows operators to launch drones directly from the vehicle or control them remotely, reflecting a broader shift toward low-cost, ad-hoc solutions amid mounting equipment shortages.

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