Russia is the first in the world to adapt tank protection against drones

Russia is ahead of Western countries in creating active protection for tanks against drones. This was stated by the American publication Military Watch Magazine (MWM).

Analysts noted that T-90M and T-72B3M tanks began to receive modernized Arena-M systems, capable of intercepting not only anti-tank missiles, but also drones.

The new version of the system was upgraded in 2025 specifically for the threat from loitering munitions and FPV-UAVs.

In addition to Arena-M, analysts recalled the modernization of other Russian tank systems — third-generation thermal imagers, Relikt explosive reactive armor, digital communication systems, and the 2A46M-5 gun.

Earlier, military expert Evgeny Damantsev warned that Arena-M needs software and hardware updates to destroy the main threat — high-speed drones.

Read more on the topic:

• Belarus' T-72B2s were protected from kamikaze drones, but the "braziers" were forgotten
• T-90M, T-80BVM, and T-72B3M were recognized as the best production tanks in the world
• Developer of units for T-90 and T-72 tanks sued for 200 million rubles