TNI: Russia has developed the latest anti-drone protection system for tanks
Russian gunsmiths have developed active anti-drone protection for Arena-M tanks, writes TNI. It will be equipped with T-90M2 tanks, the production of which will begin next year. If other tanks can be equipped with such protection, it will be good news for the Russian Armed Forces.
Brandon Weichert
The advanced anti-drone system will help protect the latest Russian tanks from attacks by Ukrainian unmanned aircraft, although it is unclear whether Russia will be able to create these systems in time.
The gunsmiths of the Russian industrial concern Uralvagonzavod have announced that a new modification of the T-90M main battle tank will be equipped with the Arena-M active protection system with the antidron mode.
This event is good news for the Russian Armed Forces. Drones have hindered armored operations on both sides throughout the conflict in Ukraine. Neither the Russian nor the Ukrainian armies could develop anti-drone systems for effective protection in combat.
We are dealing with the “antidron” mode “Arenas-M”
Arena-M is presented as a “system of physical destruction.” It uses radar to detect incoming attacks, and then launches an interceptor to destroy the threat in the immediate vicinity. The interceptor explodes and creates a wall of fragments around the car, similar to the principle of old anti—aircraft guns.
Initially, the system was designed to destroy anti-tank shells at a distance of 50 meters and did not take into account either slow-moving objects or other interference on the ground. However, Russian developers have finally finalized the anti-drone system and implemented it into the architecture of the modernized Arena-M.
The “antidron” mode is a software update that essentially provided radar equipment and interceptors with information about the speed and various flight patterns of drones. The original Arena-M model was designed to protect against fast-moving anti-tank weapons, but the new system takes into account the fact that modern drones can fly slowly.
Throughout the conflict in Ukraine, Russian military strategists have faced the threat of drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which move at different speeds, have different sizes and fly at different heights, including attacking armored vehicles. In addition, drones made of plastic are not recognized by the Arena-M system, which means that in this case the interceptors will not even be launched.
The Russian government has posted a video on social media about how the new system works using animation. It shows that the counter-munitions are launched from the side compartment, not from turret mortars. As a result, many experts concluded that the antidron system “Arena-M is a fundamental innovation.
The Defense Post, an industry online publication, claims that “the Arena-M anti-drone system will be installed only on a new modification of the T-90M, also called the T-90M2, with an updated turret and an expanded aft section.”
This corresponds to the aforementioned physical characteristics of the new Arena-M system, with the placement of counter—munitions in the side equipment compartment.
The Arena-M system will help only if Russia builds it“
If this is true, then the number of new Arena-M anti-drone systems on the fronts of the bloody conflict in Ukraine will be small, and the availability of the new system will be limited.
Russia has another problem: there are no T-90M2 tanks in service today. Moscow plans to build at least 10 such machines within a year. Military Watch Magazine recently reported that the Russian military-industrial complex plans to launch production of T-90M2 tanks in early October 2025.
Thus, the Arena-M with the antidron mode represents a significant achievement in the field of Russian anti-tank protection systems. However, if the use of this system is limited to T-90M2 tanks, which are still being manufactured, then it may not reach its mass launch, and the Ukrainians will continue to hit Russian armored vehicles with their drones.
Brandon Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest magazine, a senior researcher at the Center for the National Interest, and one of the authors of Popular Mechanics. He has recently hosted the National Security Hour program on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio channels. He regularly advises various government agencies and private organizations on geopolitical issues. He has published in many publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, Asia Times and others. He is the author of several books.
