No need for Shtora-1, Vietnam's T-90S tank is also very strong

Although Shtora-1 is highly appreciated, the fact that Vietnam's T-90S tank is not equipped with this system does not reduce the vehicle's defense capabilities.

Multi-layered defense

According to information made public by Russia, all versions of the T-90 tank are protected by three main systems: Shtora-1 active defense system; explosive reactive armor system and composite armor.

So how does the Shtora 1 system work? The main task of this defense system is to neutralize the laser guidance of enemy anti-tank missiles.

Shtora 1 includes laser seekers - which are used by rebels to designate targets and guide TOW missiles. When Shtora 1 detects that a tank is being targeted by a laser aimer, it automatically launches smoke grenades, creating a 20-meter wide, 10-meter high smoke wall.

T-90S tank.

The smoke grenade launch takes less than 3 seconds and lasts about 20 seconds. The smoke screen acts as a camouflage for the tank before the TOW's optical sight, making it impossible for the enemy to accurately identify the target.

Shtora 1 is also equipped with an optical suppressor light, emitting radiation with a frequency and wavelength similar to the missile's control light source.

The closer it gets to the tank, the fewer control signals the missile receives, while the interference radiation light becomes stronger, causing the missile's control system to be disturbed and commanded to self-destruct or fly in another direction when it is a few meters away from the tank.

Perfect replacement

Although Shtora 1 has very good defense capabilities, the absence of this system does not affect the safety of the vehicle because according to what Uralvagonzavod Group said, T-90 versions lacking Shtora 1 will be equipped with the extremely advanced Arena active defense system.

The manufacturer said Arena is an APS system designed to protect main battle tanks or armored vehicles against threats from anti-tank guided missiles and personal anti-tank grenade launchers. The system configuration includes a sensor station located near the end of the turret.

Inside the sensor station is equipped with a multi-function pulse Doppler radar, which has a 360-degree scanning range around the vehicle. An interception system consisting of 26 projectiles arranged around the turret, providing interception capability from 220-270 degrees to the front and 2 sides of the tank.

The Arena system's defensive umbrella forms around the tank.

Arena is equipped with a digital control computer. The system operates as follows: The sensor system will scan the area around the tank to detect threats from anti-tank weapons. When an anti-tank missile is launched towards the tank, the target parameters will be transmitted by the sensor system to the control computer.

Based on the coordinates and velocity of the missile, the control computer will activate the interception system at the appropriate location. Arena will launch a rectangular projectile that will detonate about 1.5 meters from the tank. When it explodes, it will release thousands of small pieces of shrapnel to destroy the missile or warhead of other anti-tank weapons.

The Arena system has a target reaction time of only 0.07 seconds, it can deal with targets with speeds up to 700 m/s. Arena is also capable of identifying false targets and small-caliber armor-piercing shells that are not capable of threatening tanks.

Arena weighs about 1,100kg, when operating, it requires infantry to stay away from the tank in a safe area of ​​about 30m around. The Arena system provides a protective range of about 50m around the tank.

Tests at the Kubinka range in 1995 showed that the Arena system successfully protected tanks against attacks by anti-tank guided missiles and kinetic energy armor-piercing projectiles using fixed penetrators.

Main battle tanks equipped with Arena will have 1.5-2 times higher survival rate on the battlefield than tanks not equipped with this APS system. Therefore, Russia believes that the Arena APS system will bring a completely new defensive power to battle tanks.

According to Baodatviet