Russian forces experiment with new tech to restore mechanized offensives – ISW

ISW analysts noted that Russian forces are experimenting with equipping tanks with modernized active protection systems (APS) – systems that provide kinetic defenses to protect vehicles from incoming strikes – to enhance tanks’ “survivability” against Ukrainian drones in the kill zone. Geolocated footage posted on August 7 shows Ukrainian first-person view (FPV) drones striking a Russian T-72B3M tank equipped with an Arena-M APS that was likely hit near occupied Volodymyrivka (east of Dobropillya, Donetsk Oblast).

ISW analysts stated that Russian forces previously conducted a mechanized assault near Dobropillya, one of Russia’s priority sectors, deploying between seven and nine tanks and two armored fighting vehicles in late July 2026. Ukrainian forces eliminated at least one T-72B3A tank equipped with an Arena-M APS at that time.

ISW analysts pointed out that the footage published on August 7 is likely from the July mechanized assault. Russian engineers initially designed the Arena-M system to protect armored vehicles from incoming rockets, missiles, and high explosive anti-tank shells in their immediate vicinity by intercepting them with counter-munitions, but Russian forces reportedly developed and introduced an “anti-drone” capability to intercept approaching FPV drones in 2025.

ISW cited Ukrainian sources which reported on August 9 that one Arena-M system equipped on a Russian tank intercepted seven Ukrainian FPV drones during the Russian mechanized assault, increasing the number of FPV drones Ukrainian forces needed to destroy the tank by 15 to 20.

Russian forces appear to be deploying Arena-M systems in an effort to increase the survivability of their tanks against Ukraine’s “tactical reconnaissance strike complex” (TRSC) – a system of persistent drone threats coupled with legacy crewed weapons, artillery, and prepared defenses in depth – in order to restore mechanized maneuver to the battlefield.

ISW analysts posited that the Arena-M system, by itself, likely will not be an effective countermeasure to Ukrainian FPVs alone, as the system can be overwhelmed and only increases the cost and effort required of Ukrainian forces defending against the Russian mechanized assault. This system alone is currently insufficient to protect Russian mechanized assaults from Ukrainian drones, let alone all of the other weapons that Ukrainian forces use to create the kill zone, according to the analysts. A Kremlin-affiliated Russian milblogger claimed that the Arena-M holds only 12 counter-munitions.

The ISW report added that Russian forces will likely continue efforts to restore maneuver despite the failure of the late July 2026 Dobropillya mechanized assault. Ukraine has also been undertaking efforts to restore mechanized maneuver to the battlefield at the tactical level since late 2025. Combat in Ukraine will likely become less positional and feature more tactical maneuver as both sides continue employing novel tactics and technologies.

Russian forces are modifying tanks at the factory level with multi-layered anti-drone armor, but the upgrades only extend a vehicle's survival by minutes, Oleksandr Borodin, a spokesperson for Ukraine's 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, told Radio NV.