{"id":1086373,"date":"2026-07-13T10:50:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T10:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1086373\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T10:50:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T10:50:17","slug":"t-72b3a-tanks-with-arena-m-aps-being-deployed-to-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1086373\/","title":{"rendered":"T-72B3A tanks with Arena-M APS being deployed to Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Russian Ground Troops are starting to field T-72B3A tanks with the Arena-M active protection system. Arena could give Russian vehicles a slight edge in survivability during upcoming offensives. <\/strong><\/p>\n

By Sam Cranny-Evans, editor of Calibre Defence, published on July 13, 2026.<\/p>\n

Russian units in Ukraine have started receiving T-72B3A tanks equipped with the Arena-M active protection system<\/a> (APS), according to a July 8 article published by Izvestia. The new system will enhance protection against loitering munitions, FPVs, and anti-tank guided missiles, the report states.<\/p>\n

\u201cIzvestia has learned that these heavily protected tanks will support our assault groups attacking enemy fortified areas,\u201d the authors add. At present, Russian forces are focusing their offensive efforts on some of Ukraine\u2019s pre-prepared positions as well as some areas that are less well prepared.<\/p>\n

There is some focus, according to the DeepState mapping group, on the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka axis, two towns separated by about 15 km. They are close to Chasiv Yar, the site of a long and bloody battle in 2024, as well as Kramatorsk.<\/p>\n

Another notable area of focus is in the Orikhiv\u2013Zaporizhzhia direction. According to<\/a> Kostyantyn Mashovets, a retired Ukrainian colonel, the entire 58th Combined Arms Army is concentrated in this area while other sections of the front have become quieter. However, Mahovets cautions that the Russian units are running low on fuel, which is pertinent as it may limit their offensive capability.<\/p>\n

For now, Izevestia reports that the T-72B3A crews are undergoing training in how to use the Arena-M, as well as using their tanks for indirect and direct fire. This strongly supports the suggestion that they will be involved in some form of offensive operation to help reduce Ukraine\u2019s fortified positions.<\/p>\n

Calibre comment: Arena-M and Russian offensive tactics in Ukraine<\/p>\n

Russian units have adopted infiltration tactics<\/a> in Ukraine, often pushing soldiers forward one or two at a time. Once a strong enough grouping has managed to make its way into Ukraine\u2019s area of operations, they sometimes converge and assault a given position. They are generally supported by FPVs and artillery. When possible, tanks and other armoured vehicles are brought forward to fire on strongpoints, and glide bombs may also be used to pre-soften targets. Arena-M may help this firepower heavy approach by giving Russia\u2019s T-72B3As a longer window of operation.<\/p>\n

At present, it is probable that a T-72B3M can survive several FPV strikes. That is not to say that they are invincible, but simply that their armour is technically sufficient to survive a lot of what is thrown at them. However, as that armour is based on explosive reactive armour (ERA), each strike removes a section of protection from the hull. If Arena-M works as claimed, it should give the T-72B3A around ten interceptions against FPVs and missiles, which would extend the time that it can remain in the area providing covering fire.<\/p>\n

It may also reduce the time taken to get a vehicle back into combat. A T-72\u2019s ERA arrangement is welded to the hull with modules that are inserted into brackets. Extensive use can damage the brackets causing the vehicle to be relocated so that new ones can be welded on. Arena-M, however, would simply require the explosive charges used for interceptions to be reloaded.<\/p>\n

The lead image shows T-72B3M tanks on trains heading for the Russian armed forces. Credit: Rostec. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Russian Ground Troops are starting to field T-72B3A tanks with the Arena-M active protection system. Arena could…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1086374,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[7654],"tags":[2000,299,122477,86877,297032,657],"class_list":["post-1086373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ukraine","tag-eu","tag-europe","tag-popular","tag-russian-armed-forces","tag-t-72","tag-ukraine"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116912287036955798","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1086373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1086373"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1086373\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1086374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1086373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1086373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1086373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}