By Julia Struck
Copyright kyivpost
“Ukrainian BTR-3s have received customized anti-drone protection that reflects the realities of today’s battlefield, where drones are used on a massive scale,” Defense Express wrote.
The protection consists of metal mesh structures, carefully engineered to allow access to the driver’s hatch, landing doors, and even maintenance areas for the chassis and wheels.
Such adaptations are critical, the outlet noted, since anti-drone coverings often enclose much of the vehicle, creating problems without the right cutouts and hatches. The effectiveness of these designs has already been seen with the “Novator” armored vehicle.
The report compared the new anti-drone screens with earlier anti-cumulative armor used on BTR-3s.
While older versions were built to counter rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) by disrupting their warheads before detonation, the new meshes focus on slowing or disrupting FPV drones, which operate at lower speeds.
The updated BTR-3 design reduces the distance between the armor and the protective mesh, which may lower effectiveness against certain cumulative munitions. However, the softer mesh better addresses drone threats, which now dominate the war in Ukraine battlefield.
Overall, Defense Express concluded, the BTR-3’s new protection balances technical and operational needs, offering a practical solution for modern combat. Similar meshes are already being fitted on other Ukrainian armored vehicles, including the Novator SBA and Caesar self-propelled howitzers.
As reported by Kyiv Post earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have widely adopted a lightweight, foldable anti-drone mesh screen for tanks and armored vehicles – nicknamed the “hood.”
The system protects against FPV drones and UAV-dropped munitions while preserving visibility and allowing crews to evacuate safely.
Russia has since copied the design and even patented it, according to Defense Express. The patent, filed by the Karbyshev Military Engineering Academy, describes nearly the same screen and touts its higher cost-effectiveness compared to other defenses.
“This is quite an endorsement of the Ukrainian solution,” Defense Express wrote, adding that Russia may soon deploy it in the field.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to use improvised “barn tanks” and “turtle tanks,” bulky metal-clad vehicles.
HUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov last year told Kyiv Post that while such add-ons reduce drone effectiveness, Ukrainian developers are already adapting with new tactics and technologies.
