The Russo-Ukrainian conflict has forced combatants on both sides to adopt new approaches to deploying armored assets. This not only involves tactics and strategies but also the protection of combat vehicles. The most visible case is that of main battle tanks (MBTs), which—both Russian and Ukrainian—have suffered attacks from new unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions, prompting the adoption of new protection systems. Some of these are more rudimentary, such as the well-known anti-drone cages, while others are more sophisticated. This was recently demonstrated by Uralvagonzavod’s official unveiling of the first T-90M tank of the Russian Ground Forces equipped with the Arena-M active protection system (APS).
Yesterday, through a video that quickly went viral on social media, Uralvagonzavod, the main tank manufacturer for the Russian Ground Forces, unveiled a T-90M fitted with the new Arena-M T09-A6-1 APS system.
Officially presented during the ARMY 2024 exhibition, the Arena-M is the latest active protection system developed by Uralvagonzavod to shield Russian Ground Forces tanks against guided missiles and rockets. While modernization contracts have primarily focused on the T-90M, the company indicated at the event that plans are also in place to equip the most advanced variants of the T-72B3M and T-80BVM.
Regarding its operation, based on the information available to date: “Its functionality consists of threat detection through a 360° Doppler radar, after which small explosives are rapidly deployed (within 0.07 seconds) that detonate near the projectile’s trajectory, neutralizing it before it reaches its target, thereby protecting the tank’s armor integrity,” as we previously detailed in August last year when the integration of the new APS into the T-90M was first announced.
Although no further details have been provided, it is likely that the Arena-M will operate in conjunction with other protection systems fitted to Russian tanks, such as the Shtora-1 electro-optical countermeasure system, and will also be complemented by Nakidka optical camouflage systems. The combination of all these systems, along with more rudimentary physical protections such as anti-drone cages and additional reactive armor blocks, has become mandatory equipment for Russian Ground Forces’ tank units.
However, concerning the Arena-M, various doubts have arisen as its development and potential production progress. Specifically, its high cost compared to other protection systems could limit its widespread adoption for the time being.
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