American M1 Abrams tanks faced an unexpected problem on the battlefields of Ukraine – they turned out to be vulnerable to russian drones. Ukrainian engineers have found a simple and effective solution. The Steel Front initiative launched by Rinat Akhmetov has developed steel protective cages for tanks. These structures frame the hull of the armoured vehicle and create a space that absorbs the blast wave during a drone attack. The benefits of this protection:
- Increases vehicle survivability by 35%.
- Protects the main systems of the tank from being hit.
- Allows the vehicle to remain in combat.
- Saves crew lives.
‘When the drone hits, it hits the protective screen, and the explosion does not damage the main armour,’ explains Alexander Mironenko, Metinvest’s chief operating officer.
Large-scale support for Ukraine
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Rinat Akhmetov has become one of the largest private donors to the Ukrainian army and civilian population. Units from all over the country receive ammunition, vehicles, armored personnel carriers, ambulances for military medics, drones, thermal imagers, sights, radios, cameras, clothing, footwear, first aid kits, tourniquets, fuel and other essential items as part of the Steel Front initiative. Metinvest has developed and delivered more than 600 underground steel “shelters” for front-line soldiers.
To date, the businessman has donated more than UAH 11.3 billion to help Ukraine. ‘Our duty is to help the defenders in all available ways,’ Akhmetov notes in his statements.
The results and scope of the Steel Front initiative
The project of protective screens has become one of the exemplary examples of effective private contribution to the country’s defence capability. To date, Akhmetov’s team has equipped dozens of Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Soviet tanks with protective screens. It is worth noting that the shields weigh about 400 kilograms, but are designed so as not to limit the vehicles’ manoeuvrability. Despite the considerable weight, the tanks retain their mobility and combat performance.
Ukraine’s 47th Independent Mechanised Brigade, an elite unit, notes: ‘Protective shields for combat vehicles such as Abrams and Bradley are essential to preserve not only expensive equipment, but also the lives of soldiers on the battlefield.’ Each protective structure costs about $20,000 for an Abrams tank, but the Ukrainian military gets them for free. A team of 10-12 initiative Steel Front specialists spends up to 12 hours to install a single screen.
According to the military, the improved tanks have already shown their effectiveness in battles, including the August operation in the Kursk region. Tanks with protective screens successfully resist drone attacks and remain operational even after direct hits.
