According to Russian news sources, the Russian Armed Forces are officially fielding a new variant of the T-72 dubbed the T-72B3A. This new variant of the long-serving Soviet tank is identical to its predecessor, except for the addition of the Arena-M Active Protection System (APS). The Arena-M APS has been under development for several decades, with very few tanks receiving the system for testing. According to recent news reports, however, the new variant has entered full service in the Russian Armed Forces, with several units already shipped off to combat zones in Ukraine. The news has received mixed reactions from tank experts, with many questioning whether the new APS will actually make a difference on the battlefield.
A Major Upgrade For Russia’s Tanks
Russian T-72 tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The development was first reported by the Russian state news site Izvestia, which reported the delivery of T-72B3A tanks to the Russian Army. “Before moving to the front line, tankers undergo intensive training at training grounds, sources familiar with the situation told «Izvestia»,” the site reported. According to some other sources, the tanks have already reached training sites in the Russian-occupied Dnepropetrovsk region, where tank crews are being trained to familiarize themselves with the new APS-equipped tanks. It is unclear how many T-72B3A tanks are in service with the Army. Recently, more footage has appeared of T-90M tanks undergoing testing with the Arena-M system.
According to Russian sources, the Arena-M APS is capable of intercepting a wide range of threats, including ATGM, loitering munitions, and FPV drones. “Arena-M may become the first active protection complex that will receive full-fledged capabilities to combat drones. Combat experience allows us to constantly improve the system, and this work will continue,” said Russian Military expert Dimitry Kornev. Leaving aside the fact that Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist system has already been tested against drones, the addition of Arena-M is a notable boost for Russia’s tanks, which have struggled to survive against Ukrainian drones.
Russia’s Long-Awaited (and Frequently Delayed) APS
The Arena-M APS uses several launchers with a total of 12 countermeasures to provide full 360-degree protection. The system is powered by a multifunctional Doppler radar capable of detecting both high-speed targets and slow-flying stealth drones, according to Russian sources. When the radar detects an incoming threat, the system’s computers automatically calculate the projectile’s speed and trajectory and fire a highly targeted countermeasure with a fragmentation warhead to destroy the target before it can impact the tank. This system, on paper, provides full protection against targets at high angles of attack, such as Javelin ATGMs and FPV drones.
T-72 Tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The Russians have been working on the Arena system for several decades now. The development of APS was led mainly by the Soviet Union, which developed the Drozd and Shtora-1 hard-kill and soft-kill APS. After the Cold War, development stagnated due to a lack of funding. However, when the Chechen Wars started, the Russians renewed their interest in protection systems after Chechen RPGs decimated Russian armored vehicles. The first variant of the Arena system, Arena-E, was unveiled in the mid-1990s as a feature for export vehicles. Lack of interest from foreign customers eventually led to this variant being shelved.
At some point in the 2000s, the Russians decided to develop a modernized variant of the Arena system capable of countering modern ATGMs, including top-attack missiles like Javelins and NLAWs. The timeline of the Arena-M’s development is not entirely clear, but in 2023, following the start of hostilities in Ukraine, it was announced that the Russian Army would soon field T-72 and T-90 tanks equipped with the modernized APS. However, at that time, the threat from small, unmanned drones was becoming apparent. The implementation of Arena-M was likely delayed because the system was tuned to address recent developments in Ukraine. While it is not yet known how many tanks are currently equipped with the Arena-M, this recent development is an important step in the eventual widespread implementation across Russia’s mechanized forces.
Too Little Too Late?
There are, however, those who are skeptical about the prospects of the new Arena-M system. One such skeptic, a Ukrainian tank expert who goes by the handle AndreiBtvt on X, wrote that “For now, this increasingly resembles PR hype against the backdrop of the complete inability of Russian tanks to fulfill their role.” One of his complaints is that the number of countermeasures carried by the APS is too few to effectively protect the tank in a protracted battlefield operation. Arena-M carried a total of 12 countermeasures (every 90-degree sector is covered by only two munitions), which means that the system cannot cope with large numbers of drones from a single direction. Furthermore, the system has yet to be tested in real combat conditions. It is still too early to say whether the system will perform as well as advertised.
Personally, I am inclined to agree with Andrei. My only response is that the same can be said about pretty much every other APS currently available. The Iron Fist system, which is set to be integrated into the M1E3 Abrams, only carries four projectiles on hand before needing to be reloaded. The fact of the matter is that APS is not a silver bullet that magically makes a tank invincible against ATGMs or drones.
It does, however, boost overall survivability, which makes the whole endeavor worthwhile in my humble opinion. The true test of the Arena-M system will begin once the tanks reach the front lines and meet their first FPV drones. Only then will it be determined whether the system has any value or has been a waste of time and resources.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
