MOSCOW , Oct 11For Russian tanks in the Northern Military District zone, a serial standardized anti-drone canopy over the turret was developed, which tankers previously made independently from scrap materials and called a “visor” or “barbecue,” follows from a video published by the Uralvagonzavod concern ( UVZ, part of Rostec).
In the video of UVZ, which celebrates its 87th anniversary today, T-72B3 tanks standing for transportation on railway platforms are equipped with factory-made protection for the roofs of the towers from drones. It is also clear that the tanks have all-angle dynamic hull protection.
As an informed source explained, “the standardized canopy was developed taking into account the makeshift structures that tank crews of the Russian Armed Forces created independently to protect the tower roof from drones, as well as analyzing the effectiveness of these makeshift canopies in combat episodes.”
“The factory canopy does not contain elements of dynamic protection, since they have a large mass and would create an excessive load on the turret, but due to the multi-layer design, it ensures effective destruction of the cumulative jet of ammunition that is used today against armored vehicles on mini-drones,” the source added.
In addition, he noted, the standardized “visor” “does not create obstacles for the crew to leave the vehicle in the event of its destruction, since its side sections are made in the form of a flexible anti-cumulative mesh, easily deflected by a person to the side if necessary.”
The Rostec state corporation confirmed that a factory canopy was created to protect the roofs of T-72B3 tanks, adding that “this simple but effective solution was suggested by the experience of the SVO.”
«The design protects vehicles and crews well from kamikaze drones and ammunition dropped from drones. Previously, soldiers made such canopies using a makeshift method. Now new tanks are equipped with protective grilles as a standard,» the corporation clarified.