Moscow Domodedovo Airport Buys Armored Vehicle
First designed to tow disabled tanks, the BREM-1 will now be charged with towing disabled aircraft during emergencies at Domodedovo Airport.
Originally entering service in the mid 1970's, Russia's BREM-1 was designed to tow disabled tanks. (Photo: Uralvagonzavod Corporation)
Originally entering service in the mid 1970's, Russia's BREM-1 was designed to tow disabled tanks. (Photo: Uralvagonzavod Corporation)

Moscow Domodedovo Airport is the first in Russia, and possibly the world, to acquire a former military tank for use in aircraft emergencies. Developed from the chassis of the T-72 main battle tank, long a stalwart of the Russian army, the BREM-1 was originally designed to recover disabled armored vehicles from the battlefield, and with a towing capacity of 125 tons it will now be tasked with evacuating any size aircraft in an emergency, including unplanned runway departures.