Ukraine captures Russian anti-drone electronic warfare tank as ‘trophy’ - Interesting Engineering (2024)

Ukrainian forces claimed to have captured a modified T-72 tank, which the Russian troops were using for anti-drone electronic warfare.

The Russian T-72 tank, also known as Tsar, had been modified to tackle the challenges being offered by Ukraine’s first-person view (FPV) drones on the frontline.

The Ukrainian forces had spotted and launched an attack on the modified T-72 tank a couple of days ago. It had reportedly been able to counter a number of FPVs operating in the area.

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The capture of the anti-drone electronic warfare tank

The 60^th Mechanized Brigade of Ukrainian forces, working in coalition with the Azov brigade and 95th brigade of the Air Assault Forces, had launched an FPV strike which succeeded in damaging the Tsar to a substantial degree.

During the fighting, as per Azov’s claims, the majority of the tank and other vehicles’ crew members were able to flee, while dozens of Russian troops were killed. Apart from the T-72, a Russian BTR-82 armored personnel carrier also came under attack.

Azov also said that the Russians left behind the Tsar in ‘drivable condition,’ which was taken into possession by the Ukrainian forces as a ‘trophy.’

The insides of the modified tank revealed the electronic installations, which were strapped crudely.

Russian countermeasures against FPVs

The ongoing war has resulted in excessive use of drones, and the Russian forces have especially been harassed by both tactical and improvised drones from Ukraine, which are targeting the troops and infrastructure.

Recently, a unique looking Russian tank with an extra steel shed-like contraption on it was also spotted in Ukraine. The contraption, apparently made of steel, is being used as a countermeasure for protecting the tank from the Ukrainian FPV drones.

It seems that the contraption can severely limit the tank’s operations and situational ability, but it could be a desperate attempt to save the vehicle from the FPVs.

Such anti-drone cages had also appeared on Russian submarines in the past. Broadcast footage of two of Russia’s submarines shows one sporting an anti-drone cage on top of its conning tower.

TheDelta-IVclass nuclear ballistic submarineTula, the submarine in question, can be seen with its enigmatic new structure in Russia-24footage. It had also been speculated that the structure could be something as simple as a kind of jerry-rigged sunshade. The submarine is known as a Project 667BDRM orDelfin-class boatin Russia and is assigned to the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet, and its home port is inGadzhiyevo– which is located in the far northernMurmanskregion of the country.

Drones and their potency

A recent attack on a Russian drone factory by Ukraine appears to have been pulled off using a converted Aeroprakt A-22 light aircraft. Locally produced in Ukraine, these ultra-light hobby planes cost a fraction of more conventional long-range munitions like cruise missiles.

Moreover, Russia had also accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. Rosatom, the Russian nuclear power corporation, had accused Ukraine’s army of launching a series of attacks on the nuclear power station, which is under the control of the Russian forces.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also confirmed that an attack took place on the nuclear power station’s site, although it did not result in any significant damage to the plant.

Ukraine had denied its involvement in the attack on ZNPP, and had blamed Russia for carrying out a staged attack.