Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams Tank Survived 20 FPV Drone Strikes With New Protections

A Ukrainian M1A1 tank survived 20 strikes from Russian FPV drones and survived. The tank was protected by additional cage armor and active (outwardly explosive) protective blocks. 

This experience suggests that if more powerful asymmetric defensive solutions can be developed at scale, tanks may be able to return to their preeminent pre-drone battlefield role. Among the other solutions found to be effective is hedgehog protection which is particularly useful against fiber-optic drones because the hedeghogs can cut those drones' fiber-optic cables. JL

Defense Express reports:

A Ukrainian M1A1 tank withstood hits from 20 enemy FPV drones. This vehicle was additionally covered with cage armor and active protection blocks, underscoring the high survivability level of this vehicle and quality of improvised protection solutions. Hedgehog protection is recognized as even more effective in terms of tank survivability  In an interview, one of the surviving tankers expressed confidence that if they manage asymmetric solution, tanks will be able to return their dominant role on battlefield. The very fact of improvised solutions in various variations, specifically on Abrams, already extends the tanks' life on the modern battlefield.

425th Assault Regiment Skelia crew combines cage armor with reactive blocks while 225th Regiment's hedgehog design tears drone control cables on contact

Two video materials simultaneously appeared in open access raising topic of improvised protection on M1A1 tanks in Armed Forces service. Specifically there is episode where one of these MBTs withstood hits from as many as 20 enemy FPV drones, underscoring simultaneously high survivability level of this vehicle and quality of improvised protection solutions.

Against this backdrop, logical question arises whether Abrams and other tanks have perspective given drone dominance on battlefield. Picture further will look as follows. 

Specifically, Ukrainian media Hromadske took interview from tankers of 425th Separate Assault Regiment Skelia. Specifically in this video material, episode is mentioned where one of Abrams withstood hits from 20 enemy FPV drones, considering this vehicle was additionally covered with cage armor and active protection blocks. Although hedgehog protection is recognized as even more effective in terms of tank survivability 

Regarding M1A1 Abrams use advisability — besides combination of mobility and firepower, and specifically firing accuracy, tank employment on battlefield enables minimizing infantry use during assault operations.

Abrams / Photo credit: 47th Mechanized Brigade photo

Even if under current combat conditions even one tank outing onto battlefield needs two weeks of planning, and timing must be selected considering weather to reduce rashists' capability to employ strike drones. 

Worth noting material from Armia Media portal, whose journalists filmed one of tank crews from 225th Separate Assault Regiment. There Abrams already has hedgehog-type protection, which, as stated, is quite effective against fiber-optic drones: drone cable tears on steel spikes, loses control and falls.

At same time, as one can notice from video footage, hedgehog is welded quite ergonomically, providing turret access, and design itself does not appear to limit tank mobility.

M1A1 Abrams of 425th Assault Regiment Skelia / Screenshot from Hromadske report

In above-mentioned Hromadske material, one of interviewees expresses confidence that if they manage to find some asymmetric solution, tanks will be able to return their dominant role on battlefield.

But we can note another point: very fact of improvised solutions in various variations, specifically on Abrams, already somewhat extends tank's life on modern battlefield.