Urban Tornado Assault Vehicle (UTAV)

The Urban Tornado Assault Vehicle, commonly known as the UTAV, is one of the most intriguing underground legends of the custom "tornado tank" building era. Conceived, designed, and constructed by custom fabricator and storm chaser Steve Worthington, the UTAV was engineered to enter the wind-shattered environments of high-end tornadoes. Unlike the heavily commercialized Dominator and Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) series that dominated mainstream cable television, the UTAV was a grassroots, independent build that prioritized thick, industrial-grade armor over a highly publicized media presence.

Underneath its aggressive, tank-like exterior shell, the UTAV was constructed on the robust bones of an old 1989 Chevrolet Suburban. Steve Worthington heavily modified the heavy-duty vintage truck frame to handle thousands of pounds of added weight without buckling. The vehicle's suspension system was completely overhauled and paired with an advanced airbag suspension system. This allowed the massive vehicle to drive normally at highway speeds when tracking a storm, but slam its massive steel frame flat against the pavement when a tornado neared, preventing high-velocity winds from getting underneath the carriage.

For structural protection, the UTAV was engineered with an incredibly thick, custom sheet-steel outer armor plating designed to deflect violent flying debris like structural wood and fence posts. To prevent the vehicle from getting lifted by a tornado's extreme upward suction, the design featured a low-profile wedge shape integrated with two heavy, wind-deflecting roof flaps. Steve Worthington discarded the vehicle's vulnerable factory glass windows entirely, replacing them with thick bulletproof Lexan ballistic sheeting. The armor plating was uniquely angled, giving it a distinctive hybrid appearance that many storm enthusiasts compare to a cross between Sean Casey's TIV 2 and a classic tank, providing calculated defense against wind speeds estimated up to 220 mph.

To guarantee that the heavy machine stayed anchored when tracking severe weather, the UTAV was outfitted with a dedicated four-point hydraulic grounding spike system. Similar to the technology utilized by the active Dominator models, these heavy metal spikes were mounted at an angle to maximize friction and structural resistance. When deployed via a custom control switchboard next to the steering wheel, the hydraulic lines would plunge the thick metal stakes directly into the asphalt, anchoring the heavy machine to the road. This anchoring system successfully proved its worth on May 22, 2014, when Steve Worthington took the UTAV out and achieved a successful, real-world intercept, capturing incredible close-range footage of a tornado vortex.

Adding to its rugged legend, the UTAV holds the bizarre title of being the only major tornado interceptor to get involved in a serious highway hit-and-run accident. While Steve Worthington was navigating a turn, a distracted driver in a pickup truck attempted an illegal pass and smashed violently into the side of the armored vehicle before immediately fleeing the scene. The regular pickup truck suffered devastating front-end damage, but the UTAV's industrial-grade engineering proved its worth. The heavy steel plating and robust external armor completely absorbed the brunt of the collision, suffering only cosmetic damage to its driver-side panel and wind-deflecting flap while keeping Steve perfectly safe inside.

Following its active chasing years under Steve's ownership, the UTAV fell into a period of dormancy, sitting out of the public eye for quite some time until it changed hands. The vehicle was eventually purchased by storm chaser Marshall Phipps, who moved it to Hutchinson, Kansas, with the express intent of restoring the weathered machine. Today, the UTAV is retired from active frontline storm chasing as it undergoes maintenance, repair, and preservation work.