Image source: topwar.ru
The Western-made tanks that arrived in Ukraine will be equipped with dynamic protection complexes of Ukrainian production "Knife", the installation of the Russian Contact-1 system is a "temporary solution".
The leadership of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has decided to further strengthen the protection of German and British-made Leopard 2 and Challenger 2 tanks that have entered service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to Ukrainian sources, in order to improve security, elements of dynamic protection of the Ukrainian design "Knife" will be installed on armored vehicles, and not the Russian "Contact-1", as was demonstrated. The installation of Russian elements was carried out as an experiment, this is a "temporary solution".
According to the Ukrainian military, the "Knife" will significantly increase the security of Western-made tanks, in total it is planned to equip about 50 Leopard 2, Challenger 2 tanks, and in the future, American M1A1 Abrams tanks with dynamic protection elements. As stated, a certain number of complexes are available in the reserve of the APU, the rest are planned to be assembled from existing reserves. The timing of the work on the retrofitting of tanks is not called.
Image source: topwar.ru
"Knife" is a modular dynamic protection system of the third generation, developed in Ukraine for tanks of its own production in 1997-1998, entered service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2003. It was installed on the T-64BM "Bulat" and T-84 "Oplot" tanks. According to experts, the complex has a low protection efficiency, and this is why the heavy losses of Ukrainian tanks in the Donbas, which even made their way with outdated anti-tank weapons, are associated with this.
Earlier, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Ukraine will receive two battalions of Leopard 2 tanks and four battalions of Leopard 1 tanks.
