Ukrainian steel firm Metinvest is developing an FPV drone protection kit for the Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) operational in the country. Initial samples of the “protective screen” will be sent for testing in about a week followed by user feedback, Metinvest chief operating officer Oleksandr Myronenk revealed in an interview with Priamyi. “Once we receive feedback from the military, we will be able to scale up production and equip the Bradleys that are currently operating in Ukraine,” a translated transcript of the interview stated.
Originally developed for Soviet-era Ukrainian tanks about a year and half ago, the screen is required for the American Abrams tanks and Bradleys IFVs, as they have been found “insufficiently” tailored to the latest challenges of modern warfare, Myronenk said. Ukraine lost dozens of Bradleys and at least five of 31 Abrams sent by the US in battleground, partly to weaponized, first-person-view drones. According to Metinvest COO, the US platforms were previously deployed in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq where drones weren’t a factor, unlike in Ukraine. “For this reason, the Americans did not have experience protecting tanks from such drone attacks,” he explained. “While their equipment is more modern than Soviet-era vehicles, it also has certain shortcomings and is quite vulnerable to drones. So, it also requires additional protection to ensure battlefield survivability.”
Meanwhile, the US Army announced in May that they received funding to deliver the next-generation M2A4E1 Bradley variant to Ukraine, featuring the “Iron Fist Active Protection System, improved High Definition Forward Looking Infrared Gunner’s Sight, and an Environmental Control Unit to prevent heat stress for dismounts.” However, the Iron Fist offers protection mainly against anti-tank missiles. An Abrams drone protection kit is produced in about 10 days, while that for the Soviet tanks takes three days. Made of steel produced by Metinvest, it completely envelops the turret, engine compartment, and openings, and requires about 12 hours to install on a tank.
According to the manufacturer, the screen increases the battlefield survivability of tanks against drone strikes by 30-40 percent. It also protects the crew compartment, increasing the survivability of the crew upon tank damage. The kit can withstand drone and anti-tank guided missile strikes with recoverable damage. However, it does not provide protection against direct hits by artillery or tank shells.
