T-80BVM tanks are now being fitted with a new factory-made all-round protection kit designed primarily to counter drone attacks. The system was developed and put into serial production by Uralvagonzavod, part of the Rostec state corporation.

The protection is built around high-strength steel cables covering the vehicle from multiple directions. When struck, the cables can deform the body of a shaped-charge munition or trigger it before it reaches the tank’s main armor.

The design was also created to preserve the T-80BVM’s normal operating capabilities. Its flexible protective elements do not restrict the tank’s movement, interfere with the crew’s field of view, or obstruct the use of targeting systems.

The new kit is already being installed on production T-80BVMs being delivered to troops for operations in the special military operation zone.

Uralvagonzavod engineers drew on battlefield experience when developing the system. Similar protective structures had previously been assembled directly in the combat zone by crews and repair teams. The company studied these field-made solutions and turned them into a standardized factory-produced design.

According to Uralvagonzavod, industrial production made it possible to account for structural strength, weight limits, and the tank’s ergonomics from the outset. The protection package underwent a full cycle of factory testing before entering serial production. The company says the system does not place excessive strain on the running gear or other mechanisms.

The manufacturer also linked the project to direct feedback from servicemen on the front line. Their requests helped accelerate development of a system intended to improve vehicle survivability and provide additional protection for the crew.

The T-80BVM is powered by a gas-turbine engine. Uralvagonzavod says the tank has demonstrated high effectiveness, while the new anti-drone protection further increases its survivability in modern combined-arms combat.