Russian troops say new 'hedgehog' anti-drone shields damage their own tanks
Photo: Drone protection installed on a Russian tank (t.me/mag_vodogray)
In Russia, as in Ukraine, protective structures are being developed to shield tanks from drones. However, the Russian design, which makes a tank look like a hedgehog, is actually damaging the vehicles, Defense Express reports.
Russian T-80BVM and T-72BZM tanks were recently seen with protection that "makes the vehicle look like a hedgehog."
Following this, a Russian tank operator complained that such heavy protective structures negatively affect tank operations. In an interview with a Russian media outlet, he was asked how bulky constructions, like "shed-like" or "hairy" tanks, impact the tank's running gear. He replied that while the running gear can handle such loads, the transmission faces a different situation.
"In another company, they made a 'tsar-barbecue' out of cables, and it didn’t even drive 10 kilometers before one of the sides failed. The load on the components is enormous, and they fail much faster," the Russian army tank operator said.
He added that if such structures are mounted on the turret instead of the hull, they will negatively affect the turret's operation.
A few months ago, Yurii Fedorenko, Commander of the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment Achilles, said that Russians are testing new camouflage methods against drones in the Kupianks direction.
"Russians are using special cloaks and suits that are particularly effective at night. Over the past six months, they have advanced significantly in materials. On some drones, they are almost invisible. Sometimes we have to use munitions to force them to reveal themselves," he said.
Earlier, Defence Express reported that Ukrainian drones can now reach targets up to 1,000 kilometers away, significantly changing the geography of the war.
