Russian Arena-M Active Protection Shown to Intercept Anti-tank Missiles

Russia has demonstrated the Arena-M active protection system intercepting anti-tank missiles attacking from above, as shown in newly released test footage published by Rosoboronexport.

The video features two interception scenarios: one against an anti-tank grenade approaching parallel to the ground and another against an unidentified missile attacking from above. In both cases, the system neutralized the threats before they reached the tank.

This marks the first documented proof that the Arena-M system can engage top-attack threats, which could potentially defend Russian tanks against missiles like the Javelin, Spike, and NLAW.

The Arena-M system operates by detecting incoming projectiles with onboard radar, calculating their trajectory, and launching countermeasures to intercept them mid-air. Its latest modifications include improved countermeasures that can adjust in-flight, allowing wider coverage, including against higher-angle attacks.

However, the footage shows the intercepted missile striking at a shallow angle. Some modern anti-tank weapons, such as the U.S.-made Javelin, can adopt a near-vertical attack path at close range, raising questions about the system’s effectiveness against all scenarios.

This development comes as Russian forces have deployed Arena-M-equipped T-72B3 tanks to the front lines in Ukraine. The system has also been integrated into the T-90M, which is being produced for Russian forces.