Reactive armor
Reactive armor is a special method of protecting armored vehicles from fire. The first experiments with reactive armor, at that time " counter-explosion " (Russian kontrvzryv ) were carried out in 1949 in the Soviet Union. The first prototypes were made in the 1960s. However, due to an accident and the prevailing opinion that the tanks were well enough protected, research was discontinued and only resumed in the 1980s. At the same time, the German engineer Manfred Held developed a version of reactive armor in cooperation with the IDF in 1967/68 . This was first used in the 1982 Lebanon War and was judged to be very effective.
technology
The reactive armor is placed in the form of tiles on the passive steel or composite armor . It consists of a layer of explosives , which in turn is covered with a metal plate. If a projectile hits the reactive armor, the layer of explosive explodes and hurls the metal plate towards the projectile. The effect of the grenade is at least partially compensated for - the rest of the effect is absorbed by the passive armor . For a good protective effect, it is important that the tiles are separated from one another so that only the tiles directly affected explode when bombarded. Until the corresponding tiles are replaced, the affected area is only protected by the passive armor.
In particular, shaped charges can be repelled well with reactive armor in order to swirl the cumulative jet; however, so-called tandem hollow charges were developed in order to also be able to penetrate reactive armor. Classic reactive armor is largely ineffective against hard core projectiles.
The Kontakt-5 reactive armor developed during the 1980s is said to be effective against shaped charge grenades and KE penetrators . According to the manufacturer, Kontakt-5 can reduce the penetration energy of an APFSDS penetrator by up to 38%.
The more recent developments are accordingly aimed at greater effectiveness against tandem hollow charges on the one hand and hard core projectiles on the other. The development is currently leading to thicker metal plates on the layer of explosives, which, thanks to their large mass, can better repel the attacking projectile. Among other things, work is also being done on the Momentum Transfer Armor ( shock displacement armor ). An electromagnetic field is used instead of the explosive .
application
Reactive armor is used especially in the post-Soviet states - Soviet Union area and in Israel , as the passive armor of Russian main battle tanks offers less protection compared to western models, but is, in turn, a lot lighter. The disadvantage of reactive armor is the effect it has on soldiers in the vicinity of the tank, who may be more at risk from reactive armor than from fire. In order to reduce the danger of the explosive tiles for their own soldiers, some armies dismantle them in peacetime, during maneuvers and in conflicts with a low risk potential.
literature
- Manfred Held: Brassey's Essential Guide to Explosive Reactive Armor and Shaped Charges . Brassey, 1999, ISBN 1-85753-225-2 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ BMLVS - Communication Department - Section 3: Armed Forces - TRUPPENDIENST - Issue 1/2010 - Surviving a direct hit! In: www.bundesheer.at. Retrieved May 30, 2016 .