Shifting balance of power on front lines Drones vs. tanks

Forbes announces that as modern warfare evolves, the battlefield has become a theatre for advanced drone technology, fundamentally shifting the dynamics of armored combat. 

Russia continues to manufacture T-90M tanks—claimed by Putin to be the best in the world—at a slow but steady pace. However, as these tanks reach the front lines, they are quickly detected by the constant surveillance drones that monitor the battlefield, making them targets. Recent footage illustrates the challenges in protecting these tanks long enough to reach Ukrainian positions, offering insights for Western tank manufacturers.

The T-90M's frontal armour consists of a sophisticated combination of metal, ceramics, and composite materials, offering protection equivalent to over three feet of steel. While this is beneficial in direct tank confrontations, it offers little defense against drone attacks targeting the thinner top armor. Reports suggest the latest T-90Ms are outfitted with the Arena active protection system, designed to intercept drones with radar-guided projectiles; however, it has yet to be observed in action.

Meanwhile, tank crews have attempted to bolster their defenses by adding extra armor. The top surface of the T-90M is equipped with explosive blocks known as Kontakt Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA), which are intended to disrupt incoming shaped-charge warheads. Since the war began, Russian tanks have also been fitted with improvised roof screens, known as cope cages, to protect against aerial assaults. 

Newer versions feature roof screens covered in ERA, and some T-90Ms now display a triple-layered protection system. Unfortunately, the latest footage reveals that these enhancements did not provide sufficient protection. An initial Ukrainian video presents a first-person view of an apparently abandoned Russian tank. A subsequent aerial shot reveals that the T-90M's right track has been blown off, rendering it immobile.

Anti-tank mines, especially the 21-pound TM-62—approximately the size of a dinner plate—have significantly impacted this conflict. Both sides have created extensive fields of TM-62s, with tank-led operations typically clearing paths through these mines. In this case, neither the T-90M nor the adjacent destroyed vehicle had a mine plow, suggesting the crews might not have realized they were traversing a mined area. The tank appears to have suffered minimal damage, hinting that the incident may have involved a smaller weapon, such as the Russian-made 3-pound PTM-1 mine. 

Originally designed for aerial deployment, these mines are more frequently placed by drones along probable enemy routes. Unlike the more conspicuous TM-62 fields, a few PTM-1s can easily go unnoticed. While a small explosive charge may not destroy a tank, it can still damage its tracks. Losing a track on a tank is akin to breaking a bicycle chain; it immobilizes the vehicle but is relatively easy to repair if spare segments are available. However, repairing under fire is not feasible, although an armored recovery vehicle can tow the tank to safety if it arrives before enemy drones.

The video shows all three hatches of the T-90M left wide open—a common practice for abandoned vehicles in combat. Russian tanks are particularly prone to detonation shortly after being struck, necessitating a quick escape for the crew without closing the heavy hatches. While the triple-layered protection system is in place, closer examination reveals damage to the wire mesh. It appears one or more previous first-person view (FPV) drones may have penetrated the mesh, creating a breach. 

The skilled FPV pilot maneuvers carefully through the opening and drops his drone into an open hatch. The explosion ignites a fire in the stored ammunition, and the T-90M is soon engulfed in flames. Chicken wire offers little protection against demolition teams equipped with a significant number of FPVs, which account for a substantial portion of Russian armored losses. In another incident from August, a T-90M with similar defenses was destroyed by an FPV that struck a vulnerable area beneath the turret.

By Naila Huseynova