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Russian Arena-M APS Intercepts FPV Drones on the Front Line for the First Time
militarnyi.com • • world
Key Points:
- The Russian Arena-M active protection system (APS), recently deployed on the front line, has reportedly intercepted FPV drones during mechanized assaults on Ukrainian positions, with Ukrainian defenders using multiple drones to deplete the APS’s counter-munitions.
- Ukrainian sources, including the Security Service of Ukraine’s Omega unmanned systems unit, have successfully destroyed Russian tanks equipped with the Arena-M APS, highlighting ongoing clashes involving this technology.
- Despite earlier demonstrations and development since the late Soviet period, the Arena-M APS was not integrated into combat units until recently, with limited deployment on T-72B3 and T-90M tanks since 2019.
- Previous attempts to use the Arena-M APS in combat, such as in July 2026 near Maiak in Donetsk Oblast, saw the system fail to intercept drones for unknown reasons, though it has since shown effectiveness in recent engagements.
- The Arena-M APS has undergone live-fire testing since 2021 and was previously used in propaganda films, but its current frontline deployment marks a significant step in Russian armored vehicle defense capabilities.
