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Arena (countermeasure)

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Arena
Арена
Arena on T-80UM-1 at Omsk circa 1998. Elements of the Arena Active Protection System include ring of explosive panels at lower margin of turret ring and radar on turret roof.
TypeActive protection system
Place of originRussia
Service history
Used byRussia
Production history
DesignerKolomna Engineering Design Bureau(KBM)
Designed1993
Unit costUS$300,000
VariantsArena-E (export)
Specifications
Mass1100kg

Arena(‹See Tfd›Russian:Арена) is anactive protection system(APS) developed atRussia'sKolomna-based Engineering Design Bureau for the purpose of protectingarmoured fighting vehiclesfrom destruction by lightanti-tankweapons,anti-tank guided missiles(ATGM), and flyovertop attackmissiles.[1]It uses aDoppler radarto detect incoming warheads. Upon detection, a defensive rocket is fired that detonates near the inbound threat, destroying it before it hits the vehicle.

Arena is similar toDrozd,a Soviet active protection system from the late 1970s, which was installed on severalT-55sduring theSoviet–Afghan War.Drozd was followed byShtorain the late 1980s, which used an electro-optical dazzlers or expendable so (smoke/IR smoke) to confuse the seeker head or defeat the user. In late 1994 the Russian Army deployed manyarmoured fighting vehiclestoChechnya,where they were ambushed and suffered heavy casualties. The effectiveness ofChechenrocket-propelled grenadesagainst Russian combat vehicles prompted theKolomenskoye machine-building design bureauto devise the Arena active protection system in the early and mid-1990s. An export variant, Arena-E, was also developed. The system has been tested on theT-80UM-1,demonstrated at Omsk in 1997.

Background

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TheSoviet Uniondeveloped the firstactive protection systembetween 1977 and 1982, named Drozd (Russian: Дрозд).[2][3]This system was designed as an alternative to passive orreactive armour,to defend against enemyanti-tank weapons.[4]The system's development was stimulated in large part by the introduction of newhigh-explosive anti-tankwarheads. Drozd was designed to destroy these warheads before they hit the armour of a vehicle being attacked.[5]It was composed of three main parts: two launcher arrays placed on either side of thegun turretand an auxiliary power unit located to the rear of the turret.[6]The arrays were controlled by twomillimeter-waveradarantennae. The system used a 19 kilograms (42 lb), 107 millimeters (4.2 in) cone-shaped fragmentation warhead. Drozd could protect a tank between the elevations of −6 and 20 degrees along the vertical plane, and between 40 and 60 degrees along the horizontal plane.[2][7]Although reported to offer an 80% increase in survival rate during its testing inAfghanistan,the radar was unable to adequately detect threats and the firing of its rockets caused unacceptably high levels ofcollateral damage.[2]About 250 Drozd systems were manufactured, all of which were installed onT-55sbelonging to the Soviet Union'snaval infantry.[6]

In the late 1980s, the Soviet Army began development of theShtora-1electro-optical jammer.[2]It was first mounted on aT-80U in 1989, and later showcased on aT-72B (renamed T-72BU and laterT-90).[8]Shtora-1 is designed to jam incoming anti-tank missiles using a one-kilowattinfraredradiator.[9]In 1995, it was fitted on aUkrainianT-84.The Shtora-1 system consists of an infra-red radiator interface station, composed of the jammer, modulator and control panel, a number of forward-firing grenade discharges capable of producing a smoke screen, alaser warning receiverand a general control panel.[2]Shtora offers 360 degree all-around protection, between the elevations of −5 and 25 degrees. The system is activated when the laser warning system alerts the tank commander, who responds by pressing a button on his control panel which automatically orients the turret towards the threat. This triggers the grenade launch, creating a smoke screen to reduce the ability of the missile to lock-on the vehicle. The jammers are designed to jam the infra-red seekers on the inbound missiles.[10]According to the manufacturers, Shtora decreases the chances of a tank being hit by an anti-tank missile, such as theDragon,by a factor of 4–5:1.[11]

The large number of Russia's casualties during theFirst Chechen Warprompted Russia to consider the development of a new active protection system.[12]During theBattle of Grozny,for example, the Russian Army lost between 200 and 250[13]armoured fighting vehiclesto Chechen rebels.[14]Vehicles which were knocked-out included main battle tanks such as the T-72 and T-80, and lighter armoured vehicles such as theBMP-2.[15]The majority of tanks deployed to Chechnya were not issued withexplosive reactive armour,due to the "lack of time and funds", while some of those that were issued with reactive armour did not have the explosive charge to start the reaction.[16]Some of the most dangerous threats to Russian armour wererocket-propelled grenadesfired from buildings in Grozny.[17]As a result of these vulnerabilities,Kolomenskoyedeveloped the Arena active protection system, with the goal of providing Russian armour more reliable protection against these threats.[18]

System details

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Diagram

The Arena system was primarily designed to defeat threats such as the rocket propelled grenade and the anti-tank missile, including newer anti-tank missiles with longer ranges.[12]The active protection system can protect against missiles fired from both infantry carried rocket launchers and from helicopters, which attack the vehicle directly or by overflying it.[19]Modern rocket propelled grenades can penetrate almost 1 metre (39 in) of steel armour, posing a serious threat to tanks operating in environments ofasymmetric warfare.Therefore, increased tank protection requires either an increase in armour thickness and weight, or alternatively the use of an active protection system, like Arena.[20]

The system is designed to defeat light anti-tank weapons, such as thisRPG-7.

The system uses a multi-functionDoppler radar,which can be turned on and off by the tank commander.[21]In conjunction with radar input, a digital computer scans an arc around the tank for threats, and evaluates which of the tank's 26 quick-action projectiles it will release to intercept the incoming threat.[22]In selecting the projectile to use for defeating the threat, the ballistic computer employs the information processed by the radar, including information such as flight parameters and velocity.[23]On the T-80UM, the computer has a reaction time of 0.05 seconds and protects the tank over a 300-degree arc, everywhere but the rear side of the turret.[11][24][25]On the T-72M1, Arena covers the frontal 260-degrees.[26]Arena ordinarily covers an elevation from -85 degrees to +65 degrees.[27]On the BMP-3M, the Arena-E covers the frontal 275 degrees from an elevation of -5 degrees to +15 degrees.[24]The system engages targets within 50 metres (55 yd) of the vehicle it is defending, and the ammunition detonates at around 1.5 metres (1.6 yd) from the threat.[11]It will engage any threat approaching the tank between the velocities of 70 metres per second (230 ft/s) and 700 metres per second (2,300 ft/s), and can disregard false targets, such as outgoing projectiles, birds and small caliber bullets.[12]If the computer detects that the projectile is heading towards an already discharged panel it can rotate the turret to point an active panel at the threat.[27]Arena works during the day and night, and the lack of electromagnetic interference allows the system to be used by multiple vehicles as a team.[28]The 27-volt system requires approximately one kilowatt of power, and weighs around 1,100 kilograms (2,400 lb).[12]Arena increases a tank's probability of surviving a rocket-propelled grenade by between 1.5–2 times.[12][29]

Shtora was a soft-kill system, designed to passively defeat anti-tank missiles by jamming their guidance systems. By contrast, Arena is a hard-kill system like Drozd, designed to destroy the warhead through the use of munitions before the missile can engage the vehicle being protected.[3]

Arena-M

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The modernized Arena-M's manufacturer claims it is able to intercept munitions coming from all aspects, including true top-attack missiles like the Javelin and that it will be installed on Russian T-80 and T-90 tanks.[30][31]

In 2023, Russian state news agencyRIA Novostireported that Russia would soon equip its T-90M and T-80BVM tanks with Arena-M. The report also said that Russia was also exploring installing the system on T-72B3 and T-72B3M tanks.[32]

Development

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Arena evolved from the earlier Shater (Tent) active protection system first fitted to the Obiekt 478M. Arena was first fitted to the Obiekt 219E, a T-80B series experimental tank that later became known as the T80BM1. The existence of this program was revealed in 1992.[33]

The Arena active protection system was first tested at theKubinkaproving grounds in early 1995, successfully defending a Russian tank against an anti-tank guided missile.[34]A RussianT-80UM-1,with Arena, was first demonstrated to the public atOmskin late 1997.[35]Arena was also mounted on theBMP-3M modernization package, developed by the Kurganmashzavod Joint Stock Company, although the package has received no export orders.[36]

Arena was to be fitted on the RussianBlack Eaglewhich debuted in 1998.[37]As of 2011, Arena had not entered quantity production.[38]

Exports

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As of 1996, the German–French firmTDAwas reported to have been involved in further developing Arena.[27]In 1998, American defense contractorGeneral Dynamics Land Systems(GDLS) proposed licensing Arena from KBM for sale to Turkey and the United States. For theTurkish Land Forces,GDLS sought to integrate Arena onto theM60-2000andM1A2 Abrams.For the U.S. Army, GDLS proposed integrating Arena onto the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks.[39]As of 2000, Russia had agreed to the deal pending U.S. approval.[40]

In 2011, Russia offered India the Arena system for use on the T-72. It is unknown whether India accepted any deliveries of Arena as of 2011.[41]

Arena-E on BMP-3 model, 2008

An export variant, named Arena-E (Арена-Э), is available, costing an estimated $300,000. It weighs about 900 kilograms (2,000 lb).[24]In 2007South Koreaand KBM Design Bureau reached an agreement to fit the Arena-E on theK2main battle tank. The agreement was worth aboutUS$27.5 million.[38]

Notes

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  1. ^Adam Geibel (1 April 1997).Learning From Their Mistakes: Russia's Arena Active Protection System(PDF)(Report). Defense Technical Information Center.Archived(PDF)from the original on 7 April 2023.Retrieved6 April2023.
  2. ^abcdeMeyer, p. 8
  3. ^abKemp, p. 18
  4. ^Zaloga (2004), p. 24
  5. ^Hazell, p. 116
  6. ^abZaloga (2004), p. 33
  7. ^Hazell, p. 118
  8. ^Zaloga (1993), p. 13
  9. ^Zaloga (1993), pp. 13, 34–35
  10. ^Meyer, pp. 8–9
  11. ^abcMeyer, p. 9
  12. ^abcdeGeibel (1996), p. 10
  13. ^Russians claim that they lost between 200 and 250 armoured fighting vehicles, out of 2,221 deployed; Warford, p. 18
  14. ^Rupe, p. 21
  15. ^Geibel (1995), p. 13
  16. ^Baryantinsky, pp. 58–62
  17. ^Warford, p. 19
  18. ^Baryantinsky, p. 72
  19. ^KB Mashynostroyeniya,"Arena-E"ArchivedDecember 10, 2008, at theWayback Machine,accessed 22 December 2008
  20. ^Hazell, p. 113
  21. ^Baryantinsky, p. 73
  22. ^Baryantinsky, pp. 72–73
  23. ^Baryantinsky, pp. 73–74
  24. ^abcFoss 2011,p. 378.
  25. ^Foss 2011,p. 110.
  26. ^Foss 2011,p. 112.
  27. ^abcCullen, Tony; Foss, Christopher F. "Threat Warning Systems".Jane's Armour and Artillery Upgrades 1997-98(10th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. p. 158.ISBN0-7106-1543-4.
  28. ^Baryantinsky, p. 80
  29. ^Baryantinsky, pp. 82–83
  30. ^Laskin, Yury (3 November 2021)."Details of ARENA-M APS Disclosed".European Security & Defence.Archivedfrom the original on 5 April 2023.Retrieved6 April2023.
  31. ^"Russian T-90, T-80 main battle tanks to feature new reactive armor, says defense firm".TASS.5 April 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 5 April 2023.Retrieved6 April2023.
  32. ^Dangwal, Ashish (5 April 2023)."'Blown Away' By UAV & ATGM Attacks, Russia To Arm Its T-90M Tanks With Arena-M Active Protection System ".EurAsian Times.Archivedfrom the original on 3 August 2023.Retrieved3 August2023.
  33. ^Zaloga, Steven (2009).T-80 Standard Tank.Great Britain: Osprey Publishing. pp. 26, 38.ISBN978-1-84603-244-8.
  34. ^Warford, p. 21
  35. ^Baryantinsky, p. 83
  36. ^Janes Armour & Artillery,Kurgan BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicle upgrade (Russian Federation), Armoured personnel carriers (tracked),Janes, accessed 22 December 2008
  37. ^Foss 2011,p. 101.
  38. ^abFoss 2011,p. 85.
  39. ^Lett, Phillip.Phillip Lett Collection,Box: 8, File: Arena System Proposal- 1998. Auburn, AL: Auburn University. 02-038.
  40. ^Chazan, Guy (14 July 2000)."Russia Makes a Noisy Pitch To Become Big Arms Exporter".The Wall Street Journal.Archivedfrom the original on 7 September 2023.Retrieved7 September2023.
  41. ^Foss 2011,p. 58.

References

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