Why The ZIL 135, A Soviet Union Military Truck, Is So Admired And Still In Use Today Despite Its Controversial History

Written by Rafaela Fabris

Published on 21/05/2024 at 14:15

Foto: Conhecimento Global/Divulgação

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Learn How the ZIL 135, Designed by the Soviet Union, Gained Respect for Its Ability to Conquer Difficult Terrain and Carry Heavy Loads, Still in Use Today in Various Parts of the World.

Many of the items we use daily, such as zippers and adhesive tapes, originated from military needs. During the Cold War, the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in the creation of many advanced technologies. A notable example of this innovation is the ZIL 135, a Soviet military truck designed to tackle difficult terrains and transport heavy missiles.

The ZIL 135, developed in the 1950s, is a four-axle truck with eight-wheel drive, capable of operating in virtually any environment. Originally, it was created to help protect the vast territory of the Soviet Union, which faced mobility challenges due to poor roads and severe weather.

In 1955, the Prototype ZIS 134 Emerged, Showing Good Performance

With the end of World War II, the Soviet Union began working on a cargo truck for remote areas. In 1955, the prototype ZIS 134 emerged, showing good performance, but it had issues with engines and load capacity. In response, Soviet engineers revised the design, resulting in the ZIL 135 in 1958, which could operate both on land and on water.

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Two Engines Were Installed Behind the Cab, Each Moving the Wheels on One Side

Another highlight was the engine configuration: two engines were installed behind the cab, each moving the wheels on one side. Even if one engine failed, the other could continue to move the truck, ensuring operation in remote areas.

The Soviet Union showcased the ZIL 135 at a military parade in 1961, impressing President Nikita Khrushchev. Mass production began in 1965, and over 5,000 units were produced over nearly four decades. The ZIL 135 was adapted for various uses, including water trucks, dump trucks, cranes, and missile platforms.

Even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the ZIL 135 continued to be used. Today, it can still be found in military operations in North Korea and in civilian activities in Russia and in countries that were part of the Soviet Union. The ZIL 135 is a symbol of Soviet technological legacy and an example of how military innovation can have lasting impacts.

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Why The ZIL 135, A Soviet Union Military Truck, Is So Admired And Still In Use Today Despite Its Controversial History

Learn How the ZIL 135, Designed by the Soviet Union, Gained Respect for Its Ability to Conquer Difficult Terrain and Carry Heavy Loads, Still in Use Today in Various Parts of the World.

In 1955, the Prototype ZIS 134 Emerged, Showing Good Performance

Two Engines Were Installed Behind the Cab, Each Moving the Wheels on One Side

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Why The ZIL 135, A Soviet Union Military Truck, Is So Admired And Still In Use Today Despite Its Controversial History

Learn How the ZIL 135, Designed by the Soviet Union, Gained Respect for Its Ability to Conquer Difficult Terrain and Carry Heavy Loads, Still in Use Today in Various Parts of the World.

In 1955, the Prototype ZIS 134 Emerged, Showing Good Performance

Two Engines Were Installed Behind the Cab, Each Moving the Wheels on One Side

Libya built over 4,000 kilometers of underground pipelines to bring water from the Sahara to coastal cities in a project that the government itself called the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Desert sand, previously discarded for being too smooth for concrete, becomes an ecological brick in the United Arab Emirates, dispensing with Portland cement, curing at room temperature, and attempting to transform dunes useless for construction into raw material for a new arid engineering.

He transformed an abandoned plastic water tank into an underground house in the “hobbit hole” style, using only repurposed pallet wood, without heavy machinery or expensive labor.

China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

Toyota launches “family hybrid van” with 7 or 8 seats, 1.8 hybrid engine, fuel consumption of up to 23.8 km/l, and a price equivalent to about R$ 104,000 without taxes, below the Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid sold in Brazil: meet the Noah Hybrid 2026 in Japan.

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