Ukrainian Company Develops Steel Armor for Patriot Air Defense Batteries
A Ukrainian defense initiative is producing steel armor for the country's Patriot air-defense batteries, providing an extra layer of protection against shrapnel and debris. This initiative, known as Steel Front, is a collaboration between Rinat Akhmetov's Metinvest, the country's largest steel producer, and engineers from the company.
The armor consists of around 200 steel plates, each 8 millimeters thick, that wrap around the exterior of the Patriot's control unit. These plates are designed to shield the unit from missile shrapnel and blast fragments, protecting the crew operating the system.
"Air defenders also need reliable protection," said Oleksandr Myronenko, the Metinvest Group's chief operating officer. The company developed the project from scratch in under two months, and mass production is now underway. The first plates have already been installed on an undisclosed number of Patriot control units.
The Patriot has been a critical part of Ukraine's air-defense umbrella since the first battery arrived in April 2023. The system has been praised for its success against the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, a Russian air-launched ballistic missile that Moscow claimed was impossible to intercept.
Beyond protecting the Patriots, Steel Front has also produced screens for various armored vehicles in service with the Ukrainian military. These screens are designed to protect these vehicles from threats like small, exploding first-person view (FPV) drones. Cage armor has become increasingly common as the drone threat has become more prolific, but the designs vary significantly in both quality and sophistication.
8 Comments
Eugene Alta
This is just another example of throwing money at the problem instead of finding real solutions.
BuggaBoom
Armoring the Patriots makes them heavier and harder to move. Is that really worth it?
Eugene Alta
Steel to defend against shrapnel? Sounds like they're expecting the worst. Not a sign of confidence in the air defenses.
BuggaBoom
Metinvest profits from war, just like all the other arms manufacturers. They're not doing this out of the goodness of their hearts.
Loubianka
This is just another way for the military-industrial complex to profiteer from war.
Michelangelo
This feels like a desperate move from a losing side. It's not going to change the outcome.
Raphael
Let's hope this is just the beginning of more innovative solutions from Ukrainian companies.
Donatello
Cage armor is proven effective against small drones, which are a growing threat.