Within the military aid packages that USA has sent to Ukraine Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, they are 31 tanks MBTacronym for Main Battle Tank, M1A1 Abrams which were delivered last October. However, in April the Associated Press reported that that had been removed from the front line due to their lack of protection against drones that are being used extensively in this conflict and after five of these MBTs were destroyed. Recently, in videos published on social networks, it has been possible to see The improvements that Ukrainian soldiers are introducing to the M1A1 Abrams to increase their effectiveness and defenses against drones.
The images reveal additional armor mounted around the hull and turretwhich improves the tank’s defensive capabilities and allows it to counter threats from drones, anti-tank rockets and missiles. The MBT is now protected with Explosive Reactive ArmorERA for its acronym in English, according to The Eurasian Times. Abrams tanks reinforced with anti-drone cagessomething that is becoming a standard among both Ukrainian and Russian forces, and what appears to be an electronic warfare solution against drones placed on the turret roofwhose function would be to interfere and block the communication of enemy drones.
ERA offers significant advantages over traditional tank armor by providing defense mechanisms that lessen the impact of anti-tank ammunition. Traditional armor It is based solely on the thickness and composition of the material to absorb and deflect incoming projectiles. The ERA consists on plates filled with explosives that detonate upon impact with enemy ammunition, interrupting the penetration process. This not only reduces the penetration depth of the projectile, but also disperses the energy, offering better protection without significantly increasing the weight of the tank. All these measures are intended to protect the M1A1 Abrams against FPV drones and loitering munitions, as well as rockets and anti-tank missiles.
The FPV dronesequipped with high-resolution cameras and operated remotely, can be guided precisely to the target and attack the most vulnerable points such as an open hatch. These drones can carry explosive payloads that they drop on the target, a threat that can evade traditional defenses and carry out attacks that would not otherwise be possible.
The loitering munitionsalso known as kamikaze drones, are another new threat to MBTs. They can hover over the battlefield for extended periods before identifying and attacking targets. Once a target is identified, the suicide drone, equipped with an explosive payload, hits it.
The Latest generation anti-tank rockets and missiles They also pose a serious threat to armored vehicles. These weapons are designed to attack the top of tanks, where armor is typically weakest, with advanced guidance systems ensuring high accuracy and tandem warheads The M1A1 Abrams are capable of penetrating even armored vehicles with ERAs. These consist of two separate explosive charges: the first detonates on impact and the second detonates later, taking advantage of the gap created by the first explosion. It remains to be seen whether the M1A1 Abrams can be as effective a weapon on the front lines as Ukraine wishes.