Ukraine’s U.S. supplied M1A1 Abrams tanks are being equipped with production-standard anti-drone armour screens, also known as “cope cages,” on their turrets.
Improving Tank Defenses
New defenses are being added to Ukraine’s M1 Abrams tanks after drones have knocked out at least a quarter of them.
About a few months ago, U.S. officials reported that Ukrainian forces had pulled their M1A1 Abrams tanks from the front lines due to concerns about their vulnerability to first-person view (FPV) kamikaze drones and other uncrewed aerial threats.
Current Status and Future Steps
The current status of Ukraine’s Abrams tanks remains unclear, but they may be back in action. Ukraine-headquartered Metinvest Group, a steel and mining conglomerate, is installing the new armor screens. The company said that it is producing factory-standard anti-drone armor for Soviet-designed T-64 and T-72 tanks (including the T-80 and T-90 series), but only provided an example of the design for the Abrams.
The Steel Front Initiative
This initiative is part of Metinvest’s broader “Steel Front” wartime production effort, which also includes manufacturing pre-fabricated protected shelters, body armor, and other materiel for the Ukrainian armed forces.
