Russian T-72 Tanks Don “Turtle-back” Anti-drone Protection

Footage of the Russian T-72 tank has appeared online showing a modified anti-drone "visor" in the shape of a turtle-back providing all-round protection for the turret from FPV drones and small-sized loitering munitions.

The tank is seen operating from a camouflaged position somewhere in Russian-occupied Ukraine.

The design includes multilayer lattice screens with 4S20/4S24 dynamic protection elements, covering up to 70% of the hull projections and virtually all angles of the turret. The rear sector of the left side armor plate remains partially open, allowing for the future installation of an additional container with dynamic protection elements.

The system's effectiveness against cumulative munitions with a tandem warhead is estimated at 650-750 mm of effective armor, but protection against heavy anti-tank missiles with a "strike core" remains limited due to the insufficient thickness and angles of the screens.

Additionally, provision is made for the installation of optical-electronic suppression systems in the 0.9-1.6 µm range to counter laser-guided UAS.

Earlier versions of anti-drone protection only covered parts of the turret and the hatch. However experience of the Ukraine war has shown that the top part of the tank other than the turret housing and the hatch was vulnerable to high intensity explosives that can crack open the armor and cause the ammunition shells which are housed inside to explode.