Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov recently showcased a Tesla Cybertruck modified for combat, featuring a mounted 12.7x108 mm Kord heavy machine gun.
Inspiration from Africa
According to Tech the video of the armed vehicle was shared on social media, and Kadyrov hinted that this Cybertruck would soon be deployed to the front lines in Ukraine, likely drawing significant attention.
The choice of weaponry is notably conventional, as heavy machine guns like the Kord are commonly used on various military and insurgent vehicles worldwide.
In conflicts across Africa, for example, similar vehicles are often equipped with an array of heavy weaponry, including anti-aircraft guns like the 23mm ZU-23-2. In contrast, Ukraine's territorial defense forces have utilized configurations featuring dual 14.5×114 mm machine guns or 20mm anti-aircraft cannons.
Given the Cybertruck’s advanced design and its 123 kWh battery, a more sophisticated armament, perhaps integrated with AI-supported systems, would seem more fitting. The vehicle's robust power supply could easily support such high-tech weaponry for extended periods.
Kord Heavy Machine Gun
The Kord heavy machine gun itself is an updated version of the Soviet-era NSV, developed in the 1990s after Russia lost access to the original NSV production line in Kazakhstan.
Manufactured by the Degtyarev Plant, the Kord features several internal modifications, such as an improved locking mechanism, while maintaining a similar exterior to the NSV.
Firing 12.7x108 mm rounds, the Kord is capable of penetrating barriers like sandbags and building walls, making it a formidable weapon on the battlefield. Weighing in at 25 kilograms, it delivers over 16,000 joules of muzzle energy, allowing it to effectively engage targets at distances exceeding one kilometer.
This firepower far surpasses that of standard infantry rifles, such as the FN FAL, which generate around 3,000 joules. Against the Kord, even the most advanced body armor offers little protection.
