Leopard tanks transformed with reactive armor to combat drones
Ukrainians have received a significant number of Leopard 1A5 tanks, which undergo a complete transformation before being deployed to the front. They extensively use reactive armor blocks, making the Leopard 1A5 tanks unrecognizable. We explain the reasons for this approach and what it provides.
2:54 PM EDT, October 27, 2024
Ukrainian soldiers from the 5th Armored Brigade significantly improved the armor of their Leopard 1A5 tanks before heading to the front line due to threats such as FPV drones or Lancet-3.
The Leopard 1A5 tanks' basic armor consists of only a few inches of steel armor, supported in some places by Lexan panels, a type of polycarbonate. This might be sufficient to defend against artillery fragments and fire from automatic cannons up to 1.18 inches in caliber from a distance.
However, defense against even simple PG-7VL warheads from RPG-7 launchers, which can penetrate 19.7 inches of steel armor, is nonexistent. This is a significant problem as these warheads are commonly used on FPV drones.
Reactive armor on Leopard 1A5 tanks: a dangerous but effective solution
In one of the photos, a Leopard 1A5 tank is covered with a mixture of reactive armor blocks. These include Kontakt-1 blocks and the Ukrainian "Knife" used on modernized T-64 tanks.
The Ukrainians use them to protect against FPV drones, as the single-warhead solutions they carry are very sensitive to this type of shield. The situation is different with kinetic penetrators, which are much less susceptible to reactive armor.
Reactive armor blocks are cassettes filled with explosive material that detonates upon impact with a shaped charge jet. This explosion disperses the jet through a hail of fragments, nullifying its penetration capabilities. However, the armor on which the blocks are mounted must withstand their explosion to function correctly.
If it is too thin, metal fragments will form on the inner side of the armor, which will literally tear everything inside because the block will act on the armor like a deformable HESH warhead. Therefore, without dedicated solutions, tank blocks cannot be used on vehicles from the BMP family or lighter ones like the UAZ Buchanka. It's worth noting, however, that Leopard 1's armor is close to the safety threshold for Kontakt-1 blocks, but crews seem to accept the risk.
