Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams SA-UKR equipped with Kontakt-1 reactive armor

Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams SA-UKR main battle tanks have begun to be equipped with Kontact-1 explosive reactive armor.

Serhiy Leshchenko posted the photos of the equipment on his Instagram.

The photos show that the Abrams received additional protection for the upper and lower frontal parts in the form of Kontakt-1 reactive armor units.

In addition, the tank’s sides are protected by a M19 Abrams Reactive Armor Tile-1 (ARAT-1).

The combination of Kontakt-1 and ARAT-1 increases the survivability of a combat vehicle on the battlefield against the enemy’s HEAT munitions.

Read more in the article “The first Abrams in combat in Ukraine“

Kontakt-1 ERA

Kontakt-1 is a first-generation hinged reactive armor, developed in 1982 by specialists of the Scientific Research Institute of Steel.

The container contains two explosive panels measuring 252×130×10 mm. Each panel contains 260 grams of PG-5A explosives. The weight of the entire element without fasteners is 5.3 kg.

The total weight of the reactive armor kit for the Soviet tank is between 1.2 and 2 tons. Explosive panels are easily removed from containers that are bolted together, and, in particular, they are removed when storing the tank.

After detonation, they begin to move forward. At the same time, they cross the trajectory of the cumulative jet, constantly impacting it. Thus, the jet’s energy is spent on piercing these plates, and the lateral impulse from the collision destabilizes the jet.

When the ERA unit is penetrated by an implosion-shaped charge, the two protective elements contained inside the body of each such unit detonate.

The armor-piercing characteristics of the shaped charge are reduced as a result of the action of the ERA elements. This helps protect armored vehicles from significant damage by light anti-tank weapons.

M19 Abrams Reactive Armor Tile

The M19 was adopted by the United States Army in 2006 to protect tanks during urban hostilities and is manufactured by EBAD.

According to the Polish resource Defence24, they are based on the M5 ERA of the Bradley Reactive Armor Tiles (BRAT). It is assumed that the M19 can protect the side of a tank from HEAT ammunition with a penetration of about 500-550 millimeters.

The protection can be quickly installed manually and its elements can be quickly replaced in the field.

The kit meets the requirements of MIL-STD 2105. Collateral damage is minimized due to careful analysis and testing aimed at eliminating the detonation of neighboring ERA units.

The ARAT-1 armor protection system protects the tank from HEAT ammunition, debris, and small arms.

The principle of operation is that the jet of an implosion-shaped charge hits the metal plates, initiating an explosive layer inside, causing the two metal plates to fly apart.

Each side of the tank can accommodate 32 units, with an optional turret placement.

Modernization of Western tanks

Militarnyi recently reported that Ukrainian Leopard 1A5DK tanks were equipped with Nizh and Kontakt-1 dynamic protection units.

The upper and probably the lower frontal parts of the Leopard 1A5DK were fitted with the Nizh dynamic protection, and the turret and possibly its sides and the turret roof were fitted with Kontakt-1.

In addition, it is noticeable that an unknown reactive armor is installed on the sides of the combat vehicle’s body.

It is worth noting that the Nizh and Kontakt-1 were adapted to the K1 container, so it is impossible to distinguish them visually. It is also noticeable that the bottom of the containers is on the armor front.