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49-688: Arena is similar to Drozd , a Soviet active protection system from the late 1970s, which was installed on several T-55s during the Soviet–Afghan War . Drozd was followed by Shtora in the late 1980s, which used an electro-optical dazzlers or expendable so (smoke/IR smoke) to confuse the seeker head or defeat the user. In late 1994 the Russian Army deployed many armoured fighting vehicles to Chechnya , where they were ambushed and suffered heavy casualties. The effectiveness of Chechen rocket-propelled grenades against Russian combat vehicles prompted

98-458: A 107 mm projectile. When the incoming round is at 7 m range, the Drozd fragmentation warhead detonates, spreading 3-gram slugs to destroy the incoming round. The Drozd system was relatively complex, requiring a radar array and two launch tubes on each side of the tank turret, and a large electronics package on the turret rear. One of Drozd's shortcomings was that it was only able to protect

147-458: A 19 kilograms (42 lb), 107 millimeters (4.2 in) cone-shaped fragmentation warhead. Drozd could protect a tank between the elevations of −6 and 20 degrees along the vertical plane, and between 40 and 60 degrees along the horizontal plane. Although reported to offer an 80% increase in survival rate during its testing in Afghanistan , the radar was unable to adequately detect threats and

196-706: A 60-degree arc around the forward part of the turret. Each unit costs around $ 30,000, was 80 percent successful against incoming RPGs in Afghanistan, but caused too much collateral damage to surrounding troops that were dismounted from their armored vehicles. The project was abandoned by the Army, but completed by the Soviet Naval Infantry to increase protection for about 250 older T-55 tanks in 1981–82 (newer T-72s were problematic on landing craft, due to size and weight, and $ 170 million Drozd development

245-639: A belief that Soviet tanks had sufficient armour, the research was ended. No more research was conducted until 1974, when the Ministry of the Defensive Industry announced a contest to find the best tank protection . Picatinny Arsenal , an American military research and manufacturing facility experimented with testing linear cutting charges against anti-tank ammunition in the 1950s, and concluded that they may be effective with an adequate sensing and triggering mechanism, but noted "tactical limitations";

294-470: A high-power capacitor . In operation, a high-voltage power source charges the armour. When an incoming body penetrates the plates, it closes the circuit to discharge the capacitor, dumping a great deal of energy into the penetrator, which may vaporize it or even turn it into a plasma , significantly diffusing the attack. It is not public knowledge whether this is supposed to function against both kinetic energy penetrators and shaped charge jets, or only

343-415: A multi-function Doppler radar , which can be turned on and off by the tank commander. In conjunction with radar input, a digital computer scans an arc around the tank for threats, and evaluates which of the tank's 26 quick-action projectiles it will release to intercept the incoming threat. In selecting the projectile to use for defeating the threat, the ballistic computer employs the information processed by

392-404: A penetrating weapon, the explosive detonates, forcibly driving the metal plates apart to damage the penetrator. The shaped charges on the other hand, each detonate individually, launching one spike-shaped plate each, meant to deflect, detonate or cut the incoming projectile. The disruption is attributed to two mechanisms. First, the moving plates change the effective velocity and angle of impact of

441-559: A result of these vulnerabilities, Kolomenskoye developed the Arena active protection system, with the goal of providing Russian armour more reliable protection against these threats. The Arena system was primarily designed to defeat threats such as the rocket propelled grenade and the anti-tank missile, including newer anti-tank missiles with longer ranges. The active protection system can protect against missiles fired from both infantry carried rocket launchers and from helicopters, which attack

490-486: A rocket-propelled grenade by between 1.5–2 times. Shtora was a soft-kill system, designed to passively defeat anti-tank missiles by jamming their guidance systems. By contrast, Arena is a hard-kill system like Drozd, designed to destroy the warhead through the use of munitions before the missile can engage the vehicle being protected. The modernized Arena-M's manufacturer claims it is able to intercept munitions coming from all aspects, including true top-attack missiles like

539-427: A shaped charge strikes the upper plate of the armour, it detonates the inner explosive, releasing blunt damage that the tank can absorb. Reactive armour is intended to counteract anti-tank munitions that work by piercing the armour and then either killing the crew inside, disabling vital mechanical systems, or creating spalling that disables the crew—or all three. Reactive armour can be defeated with multiple hits in

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588-442: A strong, depleted uranium core. An important aspect of ERA is the brisance , or detonation speed of its explosive element. A more brisant explosive and greater plate velocity will result in more plate material being fed into the path of the oncoming jet, greatly increasing the plate's effective thickness. This effect is especially pronounced in the rear plate receding away from the jet, which triples in effective thickness with double

637-521: Is available, costing an estimated $ 300,000. It weighs about 900 kilograms (2,000 lb). In 2007 South Korea and KBM Design Bureau reached an agreement to fit the Arena-E on the K2 main battle tank. The agreement was worth about US$ 27.5 million . Drozd Drozd (Russian: Дрозд , IPA: [ˈdrost] , lit. ' thrush ') is an active protection system (APS) developed in

686-457: Is designed to jam incoming anti-tank missiles using a one-kilowatt infrared radiator. In 1995, it was fitted on a Ukrainian T-84 . The Shtora-1 system consists of an infra-red radiator interface station, composed of the jammer, modulator and control panel, a number of forward-firing grenade discharges capable of producing a smoke screen, a laser warning receiver and a general control panel. Shtora offers 360 degree all-around protection, between

735-421: Is heading towards an already discharged panel it can rotate the turret to point an active panel at the threat. Arena works during the day and night, and the lack of electromagnetic interference allows the system to be used by multiple vehicles as a team. The 27-volt system requires approximately one kilowatt of power, and weighs around 1,100 kilograms (2,400 lb). Arena increases a tank's probability of surviving

784-413: Is insensitive to impact by kinetic projectiles up to 30 mm in caliber. A 20 mm APIT autocannon round penetrates a Serbian ERA sample but fails to detonate it. However, computer simulations indicate that a small caliber (30 mm) HEAT projectile will detonate an ERA, as would larger shape charges and APFSDS penetrators. NERA and NxRA operate similarly to explosive reactive armour, but without

833-628: The Kolomenskoye machine-building design bureau to devise the Arena active protection system in the early and mid-1990s. An export variant, Arena-E, was also developed. The system has been tested on the T-80UM-1 , demonstrated at Omsk in 1997. The Soviet Union developed the first active protection system between 1977 and 1982, named Drozd (Russian: Дрозд). This system was designed as an alternative to passive or reactive armour , to defend against enemy anti-tank weapons . The system's development

882-766: The Soviet Union , designed for increasing tanks' protection against anti-tank missiles and RPGs . It is considered the world's first operational active protection system, created in 1977–78 by the KBP design bureau of A. G. Shipunov  [ ru ] as Kompleks 1030M-01 . Its chief designer, Vasily Bakalov , was awarded the Lenin Prize for his work on its development. Drozd uses 24.5 GHz Doppler radar to detect incoming rounds travelling between 70 and 700  m/s (to avoid engaging small arms or other faster projectiles). Its computer determines when to fire

931-541: The Explosives Factory Maribyrnong, an operational requirement for the defence against shaped charges was laid out. The focus was in regard to Japanese 75 mm hollow charge shells used against Allied tanks in the Pacific. The destructive effect of the shaped charge was identified as a jet moving at high velocities, consisting out of particles from the liner. The two methods developed were to destroy

980-526: The Javelin and that it will be installed on Russian T-80 and T-90 tanks. In 2023, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that Russia would soon equip its T-90M and T-80BVM tanks with Arena-M. The report also said that Russia was also exploring installing the system on T-72B3 and T-72B3M tanks. Arena evolved from the earlier Shater (Tent) active protection system first fitted to the Obiekt 478M. Arena

1029-590: The T-72 and T-80, and lighter armoured vehicles such as the BMP-2 . The majority of tanks deployed to Chechnya were not issued with explosive reactive armour , due to the "lack of time and funds", while some of those that were issued with reactive armour did not have the explosive charge to start the reaction. Some of the most dangerous threats to Russian armour were rocket-propelled grenades fired from buildings in Grozny. As

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1078-700: The United States. For the Turkish Land Forces , GDLS sought to integrate Arena onto the M60-2000 and M1A2 Abrams . For the U.S. Army, GDLS proposed integrating Arena onto the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks. As of 2000, Russia had agreed to the deal pending U.S. approval. In 2011, Russia offered India the Arena system for use on the T-72. It is unknown whether India accepted any deliveries of Arena as of 2011. An export variant, named Arena-E (Арена-Э),

1127-461: The armour. This is almost the same as the second mechanism that explosive reactive armour uses, but it uses energy from the shaped charge jet rather than from explosives. Since the inner liner is non-explosive, the bulging is less energetic than on explosive reactive armour, and thus offers less protection than a similarly-sized ERA. However, NERA and NxRA are lighter, safe to handle, safer for nearby infantry, can theoretically be placed on any part of

1176-653: The eastern-European military inventory today has either been manufactured to use ERA or had ERA tiles added to it, including even the T-55 and T-62 tanks built forty to fifty years ago, but still used today by reserve units. The U.S. Army uses reactive armour on its Abrams tanks as part of the TUSK (Tank Urban Survivability Kit) package and on Bradley vehicles and the Israelis use it frequently on their American built M60 tanks. ERA tiles are used as add-on (or appliqué ) armour to

1225-580: The effective plate thickness during the impact. To be effective against kinetic energy projectiles, ERA must use much thicker and heavier plates and a correspondingly thicker explosive layer. Such heavy ERA , such as the Soviet-developed Kontakt-5 , can break apart a penetrating rod that is longer than the ERA is deep, again significantly reducing penetration capability. Modern APFSDS however, can not be broken apart by ERA, as it usually has

1274-407: The elevations of −5 and 25 degrees. The system is activated when the laser warning system alerts the tank commander, who responds by pressing a button on his control panel which automatically orients the turret towards the threat. This triggers the grenade launch, creating a smoke screen to reduce the ability of the missile to lock-on the vehicle. The jammers are designed to jam the infra-red seekers on

1323-417: The explosive liner. Two metal plates sandwich an inert liner, such as rubber. When struck by a shaped charge's metal jet, some of the impact energy is dissipated into the inert liner layer, and the resulting high pressure causes a localized bending or bulging of the plates in the area of the impact. As the plates bulge, the point of jet impact shifts with the plate bulging, increasing the effective thickness of

1372-606: The firing of its rockets caused unacceptably high levels of collateral damage . About 250 Drozd systems were manufactured, all of which were installed on T-55s belonging to the Soviet Union's naval infantry . In the late 1980s, the Soviet Army began development of the Shtora-1 electro-optical jammer. It was first mounted on a T-80 U in 1989, and later showcased on a T-72 B (renamed T-72BU and later T-90 ). Shtora-1

1421-695: The inbound missiles. According to the manufacturers, Shtora decreases the chances of a tank being hit by an anti-tank missile, such as the Dragon , by a factor of 4–5:1. The large number of Russia's casualties during the First Chechen War prompted Russia to consider the development of a new active protection system. During the Battle of Grozny , for example, the Russian Army lost between 200 and 250 armoured fighting vehicles to Chechen rebels. Vehicles which were knocked-out included main battle tanks such as

1470-594: The jet by forcing it to act through a layer of explosives, disrupting the jet, and to make it act through a layer of oxidiser, destroying the jet by burning it with oxidising agents. The earliest trials were done with small charges able to defeat 2 inch of steel plate which were readily defeated by a layer of explosive (Baratol, R.D.X., Cordite, etc.) or a vigorous oxidising medium. Subsequent trials with British No.68 and American M9A1 grenades were carried out. However trials were done in few numbers which caused varied results. A mixture of Sodium and Potassium Nitrates explosives

1519-414: The latter. As of 2005, this technology had not yet been introduced on any known operational platform. Another electromagnetic alternative to ERA uses layers of plates of electromagnetic metal with silicone spacers on alternate sides. The damage to the exterior of the armour passes electricity into the plates, causing them to magnetically move together. As the process is completed at the speed of electricity

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1568-499: The portions of an armoured fighting vehicle that are most likely to be hit, typically the front ( glacis ) of the hull and the front and sides of the turret. Their use requires that a vehicle be fairly heavily armoured to protect itself and its crew from the exploding ERA. A further complication to the use of ERA is the inherent danger to anyone near the tank when a plate detonates, though a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead explosion would already cause great danger to anyone near

1617-673: The radar, including information such as flight parameters and velocity. On the T-80UM, the computer has a reaction time of 0.05 seconds and protects the tank over a 300-degree arc, everywhere but the rear side of the turret. On the T-72M1, Arena covers the frontal 260-degrees. Arena ordinarily covers an elevation from -85 degrees to +65 degrees. On the BMP-3M, the Arena-E covers the frontal 275 degrees from an elevation of -5 degrees to +15 degrees. The system engages targets within 50 metres (55 yd) of

1666-595: The report was declassified in 1980. A West German researcher, Manfred Held, carried out similar work with the IDF in 1967–1969. Reactive armour created on the basis of the joint research was first installed on Israeli tanks during the 1982 Lebanon war and was judged very effective. An element of explosive reactive armour (ERA) is either made out of a sheet or slab of high explosive sandwiched between two metal plates, or multiple "banana shaped" rods filled with high explosive which are referred to as shaped charges. On attack by

1715-553: The same place, as by tandem-charge weapons, which fire two or more shaped charges in rapid succession. Without tandem charges, hitting precisely the same spot twice is much more difficult. The Australians were the first recorded to have conceptualized and developed methods to disrupt and spread the jet of a hollow charge shell to reduce its penetrating power. In a June 1944 report from the Explosives Manufacturing Practices Laboratory of

1764-401: The shaped charge jet, reducing the angle of incidence and increasing the effective jet velocity versus the plate element. Second, since the plates are angled compared to the usual impact direction of shaped charge warheads, as the plates move outwards the impact point on the plate moves over time, requiring the jet to cut through fresh plates of material. This second effect significantly increases

1813-874: The system was used in Ukraine and lost in March 2022. An even more sophisticated all-round active protection system is the Arena Active Protection System . Explosive reactive armour Reactive armour is a type of vehicle armour used in protecting vehicles, especially modern tanks, against shaped charges and hardened kinetic energy penetrators . The most common type is explosive reactive armour (ERA), but variants include self-limiting explosive reactive armour (SLERA), non-energetic reactive armour (NERA), non-explosive reactive armour (NxRA), and electric armour. NERA and NxRA modules can withstand multiple hits, unlike ERA and SLERA. When

1862-476: The tank. Although ERA plates are intended only to bulge following detonation, the combined energy of the ERA explosive, coupled with the kinetic or explosive energy of the projectile, will frequently cause explosive fragmentation of the plate. The explosion of an ERA plate creates a significant amount of shrapnel, and bystanders are in grave danger of fatal injury. Thus, infantry must operate some distance from vehicles protected by ERA in combined arms operations. ERA

1911-401: The vehicle directly or by overflying it. Modern rocket propelled grenades can penetrate almost 1 metre (39 in) of steel armour, posing a serious threat to tanks operating in environments of asymmetric warfare . Therefore, increased tank protection requires either an increase in armour thickness and weight, or alternatively the use of an active protection system, like Arena. The system uses

1960-405: The vehicle it is defending, and the ammunition detonates at around 1.5 metres (1.6 yd) from the threat. It will engage any threat approaching the tank between the velocities of 70 metres per second (230 ft/s) and 700 metres per second (2,300 ft/s), and can disregard false targets, such as outgoing projectiles, birds and small caliber bullets. If the computer detects that the projectile

2009-457: The vehicle, and can be packaged in multiple spaced layers if needed. A key advantage of this kind of armour is that it cannot be defeated via tandem warhead shaped charges, which employ a small forward warhead to detonate ERA before the main warhead fires. Electric armour or electromagnetic armour is a proposed reactive armour technology. It is made up of two or more conductive plates separated by an air gap or by an insulating material, creating

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2058-427: The velocity. ERA also counters explosively forged projectiles, as produced by a shaped charge. The counter-explosion must disrupt the incoming projectile so that its momentum is distributed in all directions rather than toward the target, greatly reducing its effectiveness. Explosive reactive armour has been valued by the Soviet Union and its now-independent component states since the 1980s, and almost every tank in

2107-538: Was also fitted to a small number of T-62s , which were designated T-62D or, if fitted with the V-46-5M engine upgrade, T-62D-1. Drozd was exported in small numbers to China and to an undisclosed Middle-Eastern client. It was subsequently discontinued. The Drozd-2 system was developed to give a 120-degree protection arc with more projectile launchers. It was intended to be installed on the then-upcoming T-80U main battle tanks. One prototype vehicle (T-80UM-2) fitted with

2156-803: Was also mounted on the BMP-3 M modernization package, developed by the Kurganmashzavod Joint Stock Company, although the package has received no export orders. Arena was to be fitted on the Russian Black Eagle which debuted in 1998. As of 2011, Arena had not entered quantity production. As of 1996, the German–French firm TDA was reported to have been involved in further developing Arena. In 1998, American defense contractor General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) proposed licensing Arena from KBM for sale to Turkey and

2205-545: Was first fitted to the Obiekt 219E, a T-80B series experimental tank that later became known as the T80BM1. The existence of this program was revealed in 1992. The Arena active protection system was first tested at the Kubinka proving grounds in early 1995, successfully defending a Russian tank against an anti-tank guided missile. A Russian T-80UM-1 , with Arena, was first demonstrated to the public at Omsk in late 1997. Arena

2254-465: Was much cheaper than a commencement of an all-new time-consuming tank design). Tanks were upgraded to T-55M standard and equipped with Drozd at the tank rebuilding plant in Lviv , Ukraine, and kept in war stores for secrecy. The rebuilt tanks were designated T-55AD, or T-55AD1 if they had the newer V-46 engine. Drozd APS was later replaced by the simpler non-APS Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armour . Drozd

2303-541: Was proposed in the USSR by the Scientific Research Institute of Steel (NII Stali) in 1949 by academician Bogdan Vjacheslavovich Voitsekhovsky . The first pre-production models were produced during the 1960s. However, insufficient theoretical analysis during one of the tests resulted in all of the prototype elements being detonated. For a number of reasons, including the aforementioned accident and

2352-460: Was seen as the most practical option due to their casting properties. The mixture acted as an oxidiser which may explode when dispersed and heated. The Explosives Manufacturing Practices Laboratory seemingly developed a more middle road between chemical armor and explosive reactive armor concepts to counter the hollow charge threat. The idea of counterexplosion ( kontrvzryv in Russian) in armour

2401-441: Was stimulated in large part by the introduction of new high-explosive anti-tank warheads. Drozd was designed to destroy these warheads before they hit the armour of a vehicle being attacked. It was composed of three main parts: two launcher arrays placed on either side of the gun turret and an auxiliary power unit located to the rear of the turret. The arrays were controlled by two millimeter-wave radar antennae. The system used

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