What You Need to Know: Russia has deployed a new batch of T-90M main battle tanks to Ukraine, fitted with the Arena-M defense system to counter threats from drones and anti-tank missiles. The Arena-M uses radar to track and intercept incoming projectiles, much like Israel's Trophy system.

-Despite the upgrade, the T-90M remains vulnerable in urban environments and close-range combat, where Arena-M's capabilities are limited. Furthermore, adding the Arena-M prevents the use of anti-drone “cages,” leaving the tanks exposed to aerial attacks.

-To address these gaps, Russia is expected to experiment with electronic jamming systems, though challenges remain in countering Ukraine’s advanced defenses.

New Arena-M Defense on T-90M Tanks: Game Changer or Just More Hype?

Recently, Russia announced it was sending a new batch of its advanced T-90M Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) to the Ukrainian frontlines. The T-90M is widely considered one of the world’s best, most advanced MBTs. At least that’s how it was once considered before the Ukraine War erupted in February 2022. Today, the T-90M is seen as a lackluster platform that has been constantly humiliated by Ukrainian drones and NATO-provided Javelin anti-tank missiles. 

After years of languishing in the muddy, blood-soaked killing fields of Ukraine, the Russians think they’ve figured out a solution to their T-90M woes. One of the biggest problems facing all MBTs on the Ukrainian battlefield is the fact that increasingly advanced drones and anti-tank missiles can deliver devastating blows upon lesser-defended parts of MBTs. 

This has become especially pronounced in the T-90Ms. Drones can sweep in from above and attack the lesser-defended top layer of the T-90M, causing massive damage to the platform and likely killing or wounding the tank crews. 

The Arena-M

Because the angle of attacks from both drones and anti-tank systems are coming at the T-90Ms from unconventional, the Russians have struggled to adapt. Now, however, they have installed the Arena-M defense system on the newest batch of T-90Ms being deployed to Ukraine. 

“[The Arena-M] uses a radar system to continuously monitor the surrounding environment for incoming threats, and when detecting an incoming projectile track it automatically, tracks it automatically, calculates its trajectory and deploys protective munitions to intercept and destroy it before it impacts the system,” according to the defense website, Militarywatchmagazine.com.

The Israelis have a similar system they’ve used for many years known as the “Trophy” system that has been placed upon their iconic Merkava IV tanks since 2008. Russian defense leaders promise that the Arena-M system is specifically tailored to repel attacks from the NATO-provided Javelin anti-tank systems. 

Although, this system is not without its setbacks. Indeed, the aforementioned Israeli Trophy system had numerous operational problems in its initial years of deployment, and the Israelis had time to work out the problems in relative peace, not with an “existential” war raging. One of the major limitations that the Russians will have difficulty overcoming will be in urban combat environments. 

Because the T-90Ms in such situations will be fighting near Ukrainian defenders, the Arena-M will be unable to operate effectively as it will not have the ability to range targets as it would more rural, open combat areas.

The Downside: Drones Still a Threat

With the installation of the Arena-M systems, though, it is unlikely that subsequent T-90Ms will be able to have anti-drone “cages” installed. Thus, the other major threat to Russian MBTs, drones, will remain a factor. 

This is why the next phase of tank defenses that Russia will most likely implement for their subsequent T-90Ms will be electronic jamming systems designed to shut down incoming drones as they are on their attack approach. While not foolproof, it is better than nothing for the T-90M which has struggled more than most MBTs in the Ukraine War.

About the Author

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images on the page come from Shutterstock or Creative Commons. 

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