Russian T-80BVM main battle tanks have begun receiving factory-fitted assault protection kits designed to defend against drone attacks, defence manufacturer Uralvagonzavod announced. The state-owned enterprise told news outlet Lenta.ru that serial production versions of the new armor package are currently being installed on tanks prior to their deployment to troops.
The specialized armor system provides all-round protection across every projection of the hull and turret. The assembly combines a protective mesh screen mounted above the turret roof and rear hull section with high-strength steel cables engineered to neutralize incoming aerial threats.
Factory armor replaces field modifications
In addition to the physical barriers, designers relocated the tank smoke grenade launchers from the main turret onto the overhead protective screen. Uralvagonzavod said the modified launcher placement allows crews to deploy defensive smoke screens more effectively during operation.
The factory design replaces improvised screens that frontline repair crews and tank operators previously built in combat zones. UVZ Concern designers systematically analyzed that practical battlefield experience to create a standardized, industrial alternative to field modifications.
The flexible steel cables function by deforming the outer body of incoming shaped-charge warheads or triggering premature detonation at a safe distance from the tank primary armor shell. Uralvagonzavod emphasized that the flexible protective screens safeguard the vehicle without restricting driver visibility or overall tactical mobility.
Anti-drone protective screens, often referred to in military terminology as cope cages or slat armor, have become standard additions to armored vehicles following the widespread deployment of small first-person view strike drones and loitering munitions on modern battlefields.
Comparison with American armor
Uralvagonzavod confirmed that the new assault kits are already being supplied to the Russian armed forces as standard equipment on newly manufactured and upgraded T-80BVM production batches.
The deployment of the new protective system follows statements from state defence conglomerate Rostec in August, which reported that the modernized T-80BVM outperforms the American M1 Abrams main battle tank in power-to-weight ratio. The updated T-80BVM is powered by a gas turbine engine delivering 1,250 horsepower.
Unlike most Russian main battle tanks, such as the T-72 and T-90 series that use traditional diesel power plants, the T-80 line utilizes multi-fuel gas turbine engines. The turbine propulsion system delivers exceptional speed, rapid acceleration, and reliable starting performance in sub-zero winter temperatures.
Uralvagonzavod, located in Nizhny Tagil in the Sverdlovsk region, is Russia's primary manufacturer of main battle tanks and armored fighting vehicles. The company operates under the umbrella of Rostec, the state technology corporation that manages Russia's defence industrial complex.
