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| Russia Equips New T-80 and T-90 Tanks With Arena-M APS High Speed Radar Protection |
Moskow - Russia equipped the T-80 and T-90 main battle tanks with the Arena-M active protection system (APS) high-speed radar as protection. This step was taken to prevent Russia's newest high-tech tanks from being destroyed or captured by opponents. For this purpose, the Vysokotochnye Complex (High Precision Systems/HPS) holding has carried out tests of a new active protection system (APS) on the T-72 tank.
HPS is part of the structure of Russia's largest military company, Rostec. According to HPS sources, this tank armor is in the final stages of adoption and integration into the Russian main battle tanks, the T-80 and T-90 series tanks, which are equipped with the Arena-M high-speed radar. HPS said the tests were conducted with two types of ammunition, but did not specify the type of ammunition used.
The operating principle of the active protection system (APS) is integrated into the new Arena-M high-speed radar. The goal is to detect approaching enemy ammunition. The ammunition that the enemy uses most often is RPG or ATGM. “Once detected, the active protection system fires anti-munitions at the threat. Their aim is to destroy the enemy's ammunition before it hits the tank," wrote the Bulgarian Military website.
Countermeasures, also known as defensive ammunition, are deployed when a threat approaches. They are driven by a pulse motor. It was he who caused the anti-munitions to be deployed so quickly. The rapid deployment of anti-munitions provides perimeter protection around the tank.
The working principle of the Arena-M Radar The working principle of the Arena-M APS radar is in fully autonomous mode or there is no need for an operator or tank crew member to watch for approaching threats. The high-speed radar must be active at a certain distance to detect incoming munitions.
When the munitions were within kill range, the Arena-M anti-munition was fired, detonating its warhead, which was housed in an armor case. The new high-speed radar is critical because earlier or timely detection of enemy ammunition depends on its performance.
Russia did not provide detailed information about the new APS high-speed radar. The old Arena version allowed the crew to manually turn on the radar. But now the Arena-M radar is capable of operating autonomously so it doesn't need any control.
The radar used by Arena-M is a Doppler radar connected to a digital computer in the tank. The Doppler radar is capable of providing information to identify enemy ammunition types, and deploying 26 fast acting anti-munitions on the APS through the onboard computer system. The choice of anti-munitions depends only on radar information.
In addition to its type, the Arena-M radar processes information such as the velocity parameters of enemy projectiles and their velocity. The radar and computers responded within 0.05 seconds and covered the tank over 300 degrees, anywhere but the rear of the turret.
Arena-M Radar Effectiveness
According to statements in the Russian media, the Arena-M APS radar is a high-quality countermeasure against enemy anti-tank missiles. However, in reality, there is no proof of this claim. So it's better to measure the performance of Arena-M waiting for reports from the Ukrainian battlefield.
However, the first Arena-M product was tested in 1995 on the Russian model T-80UM-1 tank and carried out a live demonstration in front of an audience. An anti-tank missile was fired at the tank and Arena-M managed to engage the missile and destroy it. It is estimated that the Arena-M APS radar is a fine development of Russian engineers.
Moreover, South Korea is interested in protection for the K2 Black Panther tank. Although Seoul has never officially confirmed this information, the K2 Black Panther Vysokotochnye Complex uses the Arena-E APS radar.