The author of the publication The National Interest questioned the protection of modern Russian tanks. In an article about the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile system (ATGM), Sebastien Roblin suggested that the characteristics of the T-72B3, T-80BVM, T-90M and T-14 tanks are insufficient to protect against an anti-tank complex from the United States.
Roblin notes that the Russian side is "aware of the capabilities of Javelin". The proof of this is the new protection systems of Russian tanks, including the dynamic protection "Relict" and "Malachite". The latter is used on the T-14 Armata tank. It is believed that the "Malachite" is able to protect armored vehicles from an ATGM attack at an angle of approach of up to 60 degrees. This will protect the tank from projectiles attacking from above.
The author also mentions the active protection complex (KAZ) "Afganit", which can destroy incoming projectiles with protective ammunition, and release smoke-metal aerosols that mask the tank from the ATGM guidance channels.
Roblin believes that the latest IR sensors of American ATGMs are able to distinguish a target even through a cloud of a veil, and can distinguish a flash from the original target. The author also doubts the ability of the "Afghanite" to destroy the Javelin rocket, which flies to the target from above. As an argument, Sebastien Roblin cites the location of the launchers of the destructive elements of the KAZ almost horizontally under the tower. In his opinion, this will not protect the tank in the upper hemisphere.
At the end of the article, the author of The National Interest emphasizes that such a comparison is conditional due to the lack of data from tests of Russian protection systems for firing Javelin missiles.
Daniil Irinin
