Moscow: At the Armija-2024 military expo, Russia introduced the Arena-M, a significantly upgraded version of its Arena active protection system. This new iteration features advanced enhancements designed to improve its defensive capabilities and counter modern threats more effectively. The unveiling highlights Russia’s commitment to evolving its defense technologies while building on the foundation of Soviet-era innovations.
Armija-2024, or the 10th International Military-Technical Forum ‘Army-2024,’ taking place at Patriot Expo in Moscow’s Kubinka Air Base and Alabino military training grounds, is being held from August 12 to 18, 2024, and is organized by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.
Bringing Soviet-Era Technology Back to Life
The Arena-M system is designed to shield high-value military assets, such as the T-90M Proryv tanks and TOS-1A rocket launchers, from advanced threats including anti-tank missiles and drones. This upgrade reflects Russia’s efforts to address the significant losses sustained on the front lines by modernizing Soviet-era technology first developed in the 1980s.
The Arena-M is engineered to intercept and neutralize incoming projectiles before they impact their targets. Its primary focus is countering advanced Western-guided missiles like the Javelin, as well as smaller, agile threats such as FPV drones.
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Concerns and Unverified Effectiveness
Despite its promising features, the effectiveness of the Arena-M system in actual combat remains unproven. The system is slated for integration into Russian armored vehicles but is still undergoing extensive documentation and testing, managed by Uralvagonzavod, a major Russian defense contractor.
A significant concern with the Arena-M, as with other active protection systems, is the potential risk it poses to nearby personnel. The system detonates incoming threats using a cloud of shrapnel, which, while protecting the vehicle, can create a dangerous environment for soldiers in the vicinity.
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This safety issue is not unique to Arena-M. For example, Israel’s Trophy system, while effective in protecting tanks, has led to instances where soldiers deactivated the system to prevent harm to themselves, resulting in the loss of their tanks.
