It happened in Ukraine, now in Israel. Metal tower cages rule the battlefield
Near the border with the Gaza Strip, Israeli Merkava tanks with metal cages mounted on the towers have been noticed. The solution is likely meant to protect the machines from kamikaze drone attacks used by Hamas fighters. Metal cages were already seen on Russian tanks in Ukraine. Putin's army protected itself against Ukrainian drones in this way. Sometimes, however, the cages caused more harm than good and turned the tank into a deadly trap.
7:06 AM EDT, October 19, 2023
Improvised equipment elements mounted on military gear are nothing new. For example, they could be extensively observed during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The parties involved in it modernize the equipment used, using available materials and their experiences to increase the chances of survival during a potential enemy attack.
Merkava Tanks with metal cages
One such modernization was the use of metal cages. The Russians implemented them on tanks like the T-62, T-80, T-90, and on the so-called heavy flamethrower, aka the TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" rocket system. The Ukrainians pursued a similar tactic, and the latest photos from Israel indicate that the solution is also applicable to Merkava tanks. As reported by Defence Blog, machines prepared to confront Hamas fighters have also been enhanced with metal cages.
According to the service, the solution is designed to protect Merkava tanks from FPV (First Person View) drones. As we have often reported, these types of drones are a popular solution due to their price, availability, and also the possibility of converting them into lethal weapons through simple modifications. This usually involves adding suspended armament. For example, Ukrainians modify FPV drones, installing in them, among others, RKG-3 anti-tank grenades, PG-7LV anti-tank grenades, or PTAB-2.5M bombs.
The mentioned cages are intended to protect tank crews from the effects of a drone's warhead detonation. This is because it causes the most damage when it directly contacts the target. Therefore, placing a "barrier" in the form of a cage causes the charge to explode earlier than when it hits the tank. In this way, damage is minimized and the risk of injury or death to those inside the tank is reduced.
War experiences in Ukraine, however, show that the solution is not perfect. It often happened that instead of protecting the tank and its crew, metal cages turned vehicles into deadly traps. They made it difficult to get out of the machine, and in some cases caused problems with radio stations, because short circuits occurred in the antenna circuit. It should also be noted that the cages are useless in the case of guided anti-tank missiles and other powerful ammunition. Nonetheless, to some extent they increase protection against kamikaze drones.
