Arena (distance-active protection system)
The distance-active protection system Arena ( Russian Арена ) from the Russian design office KBM is a self-protection system for battle tanks that was first presented in 1992. It is a hard kill system designed to destroy approaching anti-tank missiles or anti-tank projectiles before they hit the tank. It is the successor to the Drosd system .
Assemblies
The entire system consists of three main assemblies:
- a sensor module with 6 radar transmitters and receivers attached to the tower ,
- a central computer unit with connected controls and the power supply in the fighting area,
- a knitted collar with 2 × 16 splitter cassettes attached to the tower.
Working principle
During a combat mission, the system works in an automatic mode, with the radar sensors monitoring the battlefield at an angle of 240–270 ° around the tank. The rear area is not monitored. If an approaching projectile (e.g. an anti-tank missile with a speed of 250 m / s) is located and classified as threatening by the central computer, the radar switches to tracking mode at a distance of approx. 50 m. At this point, the time to impact is around 200 ms. The radar continuously tracks the projectile and transmits this data to the central computer. At a distance of about 10 m from the target, the computer ejects a splitter cassette selected on the basis of the data received upwards by means of a gas generator. The cassette does not detonate at this point and remains connected to the central computer via a wire connection. If the missile is about 4 m away from the target, the active charge is ignited. A tungsten plate with predetermined breaking points is located in the cassette . The detonation of the explosive in the cassette generates around 400 fragments, which fly towards the missile. By ejecting the cassette before the actual detonation of the active charge, the effective area of the fragment cone is directed downwards, which reduces the danger area around the tank. The speed of the fragments is around 1600-2000 m / s, which damage the missile or, ideally, should even destroy it. The manufacturer indicates a probability of destruction of 55%. The entire system is fully capable of night combat and can be used under all weather conditions.
Advantages and disadvantages
Due to its short reaction time, the system offers good protection against projectiles that are fired at close range. This can be particularly advantageous in house-to-house combat. The downward splinter effect reduces the danger area for infantry and lightly armored vehicles to around 40 m. The large sensor head on the tower, which is exposed to fire due to its high arrangement, appears to be disadvantageous. The entire sensor module is only protected against fire from hand weapons up to caliber 7.62 × 51 mm NATO . Furthermore, the downward-pointing splinter cone does not allow the defense against modern anti-tank missiles that approach their target from above, such as. B. the FGM-148 Javelin . In addition, the destruction of the approaching projectile is not guaranteed; in the event of damage, there is still a risk of hit. Nevertheless, the ARENA system as of 2007 was considered to be the most effective solution for the defense against anti-tank guided missiles and anti-tank projectiles.
literature
- Rolf Hilmes: Main battle tanks today and tomorrow. Concepts - Systems - Technologies. Motorbuchverlag, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-613-02793-0 .
- Tom J. Meyer: Active Protective Systems. Impregnable Armor or Simply Enhanced Survivability? In: Armor. Vol. 107, No. 3, May - June 1998, ISSN 0004-2420 , pp. 7-11, ( digital version (PDF; 546 kB) ).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hilmes: Main battle tanks today and tomorrow. Concepts - Systems - Technologies. 2007, p. 348.