Syrian army tankers to upgrade T-72M1 main battle tank with slat armour for urban warfare 1108145

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Syrian T-72M1 upgraded with slat armour
 
 
Monday, August 11, 2014 07:30 PM
 
Syrian army tankers to upgrade T-72M1 main battle tank with slat armour for urban warfare.
Tank crews of the Syrian army use T-72 main battle tank especially upgraded for urban warfare. A photo released on Internet show a Syrian army T-72M1 main battle tank fitted with new wire cage armor to increase protection against anti-tank guided missiles and rocket-propelled grenades.
     
Tank crews of the Syrian army use T-72 main battle tank especially upgraded for urban warfare. A photo released on Internet show a Syrian army T-72M1 main battle tank fitted with new wire cage armor to increase protection against anti-tank guided missiles and rocket-propelled grenades.
Syrian T-72M1 main battle tank upgraded with slat armour for urban warfare
     

This new upgrade does not reduce the operational capacity of the tank. According to some military experts, this upgrade is performed by local industrial plant, based on the experience of Iranian tankers that use the same type of armour.

The slat armour is fitted all-around the turret to give 360° protection and to each side of the hull.

The lower part of the slat armour is fitted with chain netting to disperse and destroy rocket propelled grenades and anti-tank rockets before impacting the primary armor increased survivability. The front part of the hull is also equipped with chain netting. The same system is used on Israeli main battle tank Merkava.

Slat armor is favored over traditional plate armor not only due to its effectiveness against shaped-charge warheads, but also due to its much lighter weight, which improves maneuverability.

Today, slat armour is used by many armed forces in the world, as the Stryker and Buffalo of the U.S. Army, Israeli armoured bulldozer, the Warrior IFV of British army and more.

     
Tank crews of the Syrian army use T-72 main battle tank especially upgraded for urban warfare. A photo released on Internet show a Syrian army T-72M1 main battle tank fitted with new wire cage armor to increase protection against anti-tank guided missiles and rocket-propelled grenades.