In Syria, new protection system for tanks and armored vehicles spotted

[Stannis Baratheon]

The Unknown device noticed yesterday on T-72 tanks and BMP-1 of Syrian army. Еhe device looks like a cylinder with sensors and it is likely to active protection system.

The active protection system is a system designed to prevent line-of-sight guided anti-tank missiles/projectiles from acquiring and/or destroying a target.

Externally, the new complex resembles the Russian Arena active protection system (APS) developed at Russia’s Kolomna-based Engineering Design Bureau. But in the complex are not visible launchers for defensive rocket is fired that detonates near the inbound threat, destroying it before it hits the vehicle.

http://defence-blog.com/army/in-syr...on-system-for-tanks-and-armored-vehicles.html

 

[Audio]

Some speculations say it is merely a TOW launch notifier, has no "kill" function.

 

[Tipu7]

It's just a "indicator" that your tank is spotted by laser lock of ATGM........ it lack capability to shot projectiles down as it lack defensive launchers.......

The Unknown device noticed yesterday on T-72 tanks and BMP-1 of Syrian army. Еhe device looks like a cylinder with sensors and it is likely to active protection system.

The active protection system is a system designed to prevent line-of-sight guided anti-tank missiles/projectiles from acquiring and/or destroying a target.

Externally, the new complex resembles the Russian Arena active protection system (APS) developed at Russia’s Kolomna-based Engineering Design Bureau. But in the complex are not visible launchers for defensive rocket is fired that detonates near the inbound threat, destroying it before it hits the vehicle.

http://defence-blog.com/army/in-syr...on-system-for-tanks-and-armored-vehicles.html

T72 don't have enough space to support a fully functional APS.......

 

[T-72M1]

it messes electronically with wire guided anti tank rounds.

 

[500]

Alas defence blogs write people who know nothing about military stuff.

Arena uses countermeasure elements fitted on tower (I marked in red):

Nothing like that seen in Syria.

Plus box on tower does not look like Arena radar either and clearly is an optical device.

Finally Arena like any other APS is very expensive and not operational even in Russia itself. It would be silly to think that they fit some junk 50 year old BMP-1 and T-55 with Arena.

 

[Audio]

Any photos from the back? As it appears it lacks the sensor hole.

 

[500]

Any photos from the back? As it appears it lacks the sensor hole.

The first pic in this thread has back photo:

another pic:

 

[Audio]

The first pic in this thread has back photo:

View attachment 291410

Ya, that isn't really conclusive....could be electrics adapter or IR sensor with the yellowish metal panel removed.

 

[ultron]

it is a warning receiver against TOW

 

[Penguin]

it messes electronically with wire guided anti tank rounds.

Really? How?

Tow guidance: An optical sensor on the sight continuously monitors the position of a light source on the missile relative to the line-of-sight, and then corrects the trajectory of the missile by generating electrical signals that are passed down two wires to command the control surface actuators. After launch, the operator simply has to keep the cross-hairs of his sight pointing at the target, and the guidance system will automatically transmit corrective commands to the missile through the wire.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BGM-71_TOW

IMHO the only way to mess with this kind of guidance is by another light source, which causes the sight to monitor the wrong light and the operator to loose control of the missile.

This is a known issue with older missiles. See https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sci.military/eSeAmLsGtBQ

IIRC, in older TOWs this is an xenon IR beacon, in newer TOW2 there is a thermal beacon as well.
http://www.aircav.com/cobra/towparts.html#ir
http://www.aircav.com/cobra/towlife.html
http://www.alternatewars.com/BBOW/Weapons/US_ATGMs.htm
http://incolor.inetnebr.com/iceman/pilot86.htm
https://books.google.nl/books?id=U6...AEIUjAG#v=onepage&q=tow xenon beacon&f=false

Alas defence blogs write people who know nothing about military stuff.

Arena uses countermeasure elements fitted on tower (I marked in red):

View attachment 291409

Nothing like that seen in Syria.

Plus box on tower does not look like Arena radar either and clearly is an optical device.

Finally Arena like any other APS is very expensive and not operational even in Russia itself. It would be silly to think that they fit some junk 50 year old BMP-1 and T-55 with Arena.

Xenon lights?

 

[kṣamā]

Xenon lights

My thoughts exactly. But more of as in LED lights.

 

[T-72M1]

Really? How?

Tow guidance: An optical sensor on the sight continuously monitors the position of a light source on the missile relative to the line-of-sight, and then corrects the trajectory of the missile by generating electrical signals that are passed down two wires to command the control surface actuators. After launch, the operator simply has to keep the cross-hairs of his sight pointing at the target, and the guidance system will automatically transmit corrective commands to the missile through the wire.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BGM-71_TOW

IMHO the only way to mess with this kind of guidance is by another light source, which causes the sight to monitor the wrong light and the operator to loose control of the missile.

This is a known issue with older missiles. See https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sci.military/eSeAmLsGtBQ

IIRC, in older TOWs this is an xenon IR beacon, in newer TOW2 there is a thermal beacon as well.
http://www.aircav.com/cobra/towparts.html#ir
http://www.aircav.com/cobra/towlife.html
http://www.alternatewars.com/BBOW/Weapons/US_ATGMs.htm
http://incolor.inetnebr.com/iceman/pilot86.htm
https://books.google.nl/books?id=U6f-Qlmm6zIC&pg=PA273&lpg=PA273&dq=tow++xenon+beacon&source=bl&ots=8nQRGE0ybT&sig=oomkhmFt9PMNfARvs6csj_3gBPY&hl=nl&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi94OORjNzKAhVINhoKHaEvBeAQ6AEIUjAG#v=onepage&q=tow xenon beacon&f=false

Xenon lights?

I don't know lol, just something I read

why don't you tell us something about this new system ?

 

[Penguin]

I don't know lol, just something I read

why don't you tell us something about this new system ?

I did. Pay attention

 

[Penguin]

My thoughts exactly. But more of as in LED lights.

The system apparently operates on similar principles as the Russian Shtora-1 EOCMDAS.
http://fofanov.armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/EQP/shtora.html
http://defense-update.com/products/s/shtora-1.htm

So, the apertures would be the active jamming element ("EO interference emitters" ) of this soft kill system. What/where would be (missile) detection or alerting element(s)?

 

[RescueRanger]

That tank's on it's last legs! @Penguin @ultron answers sound most plausible.