Ukraine covers M1A1 SA-UKR Abrams tanks with explosive reactive armor

The 47th Brigade of Ukraine yesterday (October 7) released a video recording images of M1A1 SA-UKR Abrams tanks on the battlefield, with Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor covering the entire hull. This is the latest effort by Ukraine to improve the protection of its armored vehicles, dealing with threats from drones, anti-tank bullets and missiles - major challenges in the context of modern warfare.

The 47th Armored Brigade of Ukraine yesterday (October 7) released a video recording images of M1A1 SA-UKR Abrams tanks on the battlefield, with Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor covering the entire body of the vehicle. - Photo: 47th Armored Brigade (Ukraine)

The tank is one of 31 Abrams delivered to Ukraine by the US in September 2023, marking a significant increase in military aid from Washington.

The M1A1 Abrams tank was designed for high-intensity combat missions, featuring a 120mm main gun capable of firing high-velocity rounds, combined with 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns for tactical support.

The Abrams's protective structure uses Chobham composite armor, reinforced with depleted uranium layers to increase its resistance to direct fire. However, with a weight of 63.5 tons and a maximum speed of 67 km/h, its maneuverability is limited when moving on rough terrain, typically the wooded and urbanized areas of Ukraine.

In actual combat, despite its strong protection, the Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams suffered significant losses. About half of the tanks delivered were destroyed or severely damaged, highlighting the vulnerability of this type of armored vehicle to modern threats. This forced the Ukrainian military to look for additional protection measures, and the Kontakt-1 was the solution of choice.

Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor, designed during the Soviet era, works on the principle of detonation when encountering charged projectiles, thereby using surrounding steel plates to reduce the power of artillery shells by up to 90%, depending on the angle of impact.

This type of armor is especially effective against HEAT missiles – a weapon commonly used by Russian forces. With its V-shaped design, Kontakt-1 provides maximum protection for the front of the tank, which is especially useful in urban combat and when holding fixed defensive positions.

However, Kontakt-1 also has certain limitations. Although effective in stopping shaped-charge bullets, this type of armor cannot protect tanks from APFSDS kinetic energy bullets – bullets that can penetrate the armor without detonating.

Although effective in stopping shaped-charge projectiles, this type of armor cannot protect tanks from APFSDS kinetic energy projectiles – which are capable of penetrating without detonating armor. - Photo: 47th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

Additionally, devices such as drones and explosive munitions can bypass the Kontakt-1 armor to attack directly from above. This has been demonstrated in real-life incidents, where several Abrams tanks have lost Kontakt-1 armor blocks after collisions, leaving vulnerable areas exposed to follow-up enemy fire. Therefore, the deployment of the M1A1 Abrams on the battlefield requires Ukrainian forces to adopt more flexible and precise strategies to minimize risks.

Another factor to consider is that the addition of Kontakt-1 armor increases the overall weight of the Abrams tank by about 1.2 tons. While this increase may reduce speed and range, especially on the uneven terrain of Ukraine, the benefits of increased defense are still considered significant.

In modern warfare, speed of movement and rapid change of position are vital to avoid precision attacks from the enemy.

The video released by the 47th Brigade not only shows Ukraine's efforts to optimize the use of Abrams tanks, but also reflects the strict requirements of modern warfare, when each military equipment faces great challenges.

While the Kontakt-1 provides significant additional protection for the Abrams tank, it remains only a partial solution to the complex threats Ukraine faces on the battlefield.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/vu-khi-quan-su-ukraine-phu-kin-giap-phan-ung-no-cho-xe-tang-m1a1-sa-ukr-abrams-351104.html