Scientific and Production Association "Zashchitnye Sistemy Kompleksnye Resheniya" (NPO "ZSKR") has patented a non-explosive version of reactive armor intended to protect tanks and armored personnel carriers. The engineers created a system with a multilayer structure without the use of explosives.
The new protective module was made in the form of a rectangular plate consisting of five alternating layers. The outer and inner layers were made of fiberglass based on polyester resin with the addition of aluminum hydroxide. Between them, it is proposed to place layers of highly elastic polymer, and then bond everything into a single armor package.
The operating principle of the armor is based on the step-by-step destabilization of the shaped-charge jet. When a munition hits, the jet sequentially passes through layers of different density, changes direction, and loses speed. As a result, the penetration depth sharply decreases even before contact with the main hull armor.
Unlike classical explosive reactive armor, the new element does not destroy externally mounted equipment and does not detonate. It does not damage the hull of light armored vehicles and does not create secondary damaging factors.
The developers emphasized that fiberglass is about 80% lighter than steel with comparable strength. The material is resistant to moisture, corrosion, temperature fluctuations, and mechanical loads. Due to this, the protection does not require special storage or maintenance conditions.
It is worth noting that the most advanced tank protection at the moment is the "Arena-M." However, it also needs software and hardware updates to destroy the main threat — high-speed drones.
Read more materials on the topic:
- T-72B3M tanks received serial-production active protection "Arena-M" for the first time
- A reinforced barrel for tanks with an armored shroud was developed in Russia
- A T-90M tank mechanic named the vulnerable spot of the "Proryv" for drone attacks
