The Ukrainian military is enhancing the protection of the American-supplied Abrams tanks. According to a report from ANNA News, one of Ukraine’s M1A1 Abrams tanks has been equipped with Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor (ERA).
Photos of the upgraded Abrams tank were posted on Ukrainian social media with the label “Kontakt-1.” The images show Kontakt-1 installed on the upper and lower armor plates of the tank.
Based on the color of the Kontakt-1 protective blocks, experts believe they originate from Soviet-era tank models. However, the sides of the Abrams tank’s hull retain the standard ARAT kinetic protection system.
8 Abrams Tanks Destroyed on the Ukrainian Battlefield
According to ANNA News, the Ukrainian military has reportedly lost at least 8 out of the 31 Abrams tanks they received from the United States. Additionally, several other vehicles have sustained varying degrees of damage.
Despite being praised by Ukrainian soldiers for their accuracy, stability, and maneuverability, the Abrams tanks provided do not have depleted uranium armor, and their turret protection is insufficient against Russian anti-tank weapons.
As a result, Ukrainian soldiers have been seeking ways to increase the survivability of their tanks. Previously, a video appeared online showing the installation of protective components on a Ukrainian Leopard 1A5 tank.
Kontakt-1 Explosive Reactive Armor
The Soviet-developed Kontakt-1 dynamic protection system is a type of explosive reactive armor (ERA) designed to enhance the survivability of armored vehicles, particularly tanks, against anti-tank weapons.
Developed during the Cold War and first introduced in the early 1980s, Kontakt-1 has since become a crucial component of the protection system for Soviet-era and later Russian armored vehicles.
Kontakt-1 consists of metal boxes mounted on the exterior surfaces of the tank. Each box contains a “sandwich” structure with two metal plates and a layer of explosive material in between. This explosive material is typically a plastic explosive, sensitive enough to detonate upon impact from an incoming projectile.
Operating Principle
The operating principle of Kontakt-1 is based on the concept of explosive reactive armor, designed to enhance protection against anti-tank weapons. When hit, Kontakt-1 activates, causing an explosion that disrupts the penetrative force of the incoming weapon.
Kontakt-1 uses 4S20 explosive reactive material, placed in two compartments at different angles to maximize interaction efficiency with shaped-charge anti-tank projectiles. The effectiveness of the reactive armor depends on the angle of contact between the projectile and the armor.
At contact angles of 50-70 degrees, the reactive armor is optimally effective against shaped-charge projectiles. At angles of 30-45 degrees, the armor’s effectiveness significantly decreases by up to 60%. The smaller the contact angle, the lower the effectiveness of the reactive armor against shaped charges.
One of the main advantages of Kontakt-1 is that it provides additional protection without significantly increasing the tank’s weight, making it an effective solution to improve the survivability of older tank models without compromising their mobility.
However, Kontakt-1 has certain limitations. Each reactive armor brick is designed for single use, meaning it loses its effectiveness after detonation and needs replacement. Additionally, it can pose a danger to nearby soldiers or vehicles when it explodes.
Moreover, this armor cannot cover the entire tank, leaving some areas vulnerable to enemy attacks.
Kontakt-1 is effective against certain threats but cannot protect against kinetic energy penetrators or tandem warheads. According to the manufacturer, Kontakt-1 typically reduces the penetration capability of Konkurs anti-tank guided missiles by 86%, rocket-propelled grenades by 92%, and HEAT rounds by 52%.
Although not as robust as modern ERA systems, Kontakt-1 remains a suitable solution to enhance the survivability of Abrams tanks against Russian firepower.
Adaptation and Innovation
“The fact that Ukrainian soldiers are retrofitting modern Western tanks indicates their need to continuously adapt to the battlefield, drawing lessons from irreplaceable losses in both personnel and equipment. It’s fascinating to see NATO’s advanced weaponry being supplemented with defense systems developed by their adversaries,” remarked Tyler Rogoway, an American journalist and defense expert.
