In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, nations worldwide are learning valuable lessons and adapting to the evolving landscape of modern warfare. Israel, in a proactive move, has fortified its tank units with a distinctive ‘V’ sign and a specialized iron ‘roof-cage’ designed to shield against drone attacks. This innovation, a protective mesh installed on the tank’s cupola, has not only garnered attention but has also influenced other military powers.
India, reflecting on the Russian Army’s experiences, recently incorporated similar roof-cages on its tanks. After the Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh in the year 2020, the Indian Army also deployed T-90 and T-72 tanks on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) against China. Recently, the Indian Army conducted an exercise near the LAC in eastern Ladakh. In this manoeuvre, a roof-cage was seen on the tank of the Indian Army. Actually, the Indian Army has taken the Russia-Ukraine war as a study. The Armoured Regiment of the Indian Army has deeply reflected on the successes and failures of the Russia-Ukraine war. During this time, it was also agreed to install a mesh cage as a measure to protect the tank from drone attack.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has shared a video of the Armoured Column on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). In this video, IDF tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICV) are seen preparing to attack in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Several dozen tanks, ICVs and civilian cars are seen in the video (in many countries’ armies, commanders use civilian cars).
The IDF’s video post reads, “We will fight to eliminate Hamas. We will fight for the thousands of people who lost their lives on (7th October). We will fight to protect our country.” But in this video of one minute and fourteen seconds, the special thing is the tanks of the IDF on which the English letter ‘V’ is written. This mark is exactly the same as ‘V’ or ‘Z’ which was written on Russian tanks, ICVs and military trucks during the Ukraine war.
In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, nations worldwide are learning valuable lessons and adapting to the evolving landscape of modern warfare. Israel, in a proactive move, has fortified its tank units with a distinctive ‘V’ sign and a specialized iron ‘roof-cage’ designed to shield against drone attacks. This innovation, a protective mesh installed on the tank’s cupola, has not only garnered attention but has also influenced other military powers.
India, reflecting on the Russian Army’s experiences, recently incorporated similar roof-cages on its tanks. After the Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh in the year 2020, the Indian Army also deployed T-90 and T-72 tanks on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) against China. Recently, the Indian Army conducted an exercise near the LAC in eastern Ladakh. In this manoeuvre, a roof-cage was seen on the tank of the Indian Army. Actually, the Indian Army has taken the Russia-Ukraine war as a study. The Armoured Regiment of the Indian Army has deeply reflected on the successes and failures of the Russia-Ukraine war. During this time, it was also agreed to install a mesh cage as a measure to protect the tank from drone attack.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has shared a video of the Armoured Column on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). In this video, IDF tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICV) are seen preparing to attack in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Several dozen tanks, ICVs and civilian cars are seen in the video (in many countries’ armies, commanders use civilian cars).
The IDF’s video post reads, “We will fight to eliminate Hamas. We will fight for the thousands of people who lost their lives on (7th October). We will fight to protect our country.” But in this video of one minute and fourteen seconds, the special thing is the tanks of the IDF on which the English letter ‘V’ is written. This mark is exactly the same as ‘V’ or ‘Z’ which was written on Russian tanks, ICVs and military trucks during the Ukraine war.
These ‘Z’ and ‘V’ marks became very famous during the attack on Ukraine. Because initially their meaning was not understood. Some experts had started linking these V and Z signs with Hitler’s Nazi symbol. Later it was revealed that these marks were placed to appear different from enemy tanks and other military vehicles.
Apart from this, an iron mesh shade is also installed on the cupola of Israeli tanks. This shed has been installed to protect the tank from quadcopters (small drones) or destructive drones (kamikaze) attacking with grenades. This shade is also similar to the one installed by the Russian Army on its tanks during the Ukraine war. The Man Battle Tank (MBT) of the Israeli Army is the indigenous ‘Merkava’.
In fact, in the initial days of the war against Ukraine, Russian tanks had to suffer huge losses. The Russian army had tried to surround Ukraine’s capital Kiev and surrounding areas through traditional armored warfare. But Ukraine had caused huge damage by attacking the Russian Army’s armored column with a drone. The situation was such that on seeing the Ukrainian drone, Russian soldiers would leave their tanks and trucks and run away. But soon the Russian army dismantled these kamikaze drones and started installing an iron mesh shed (roof) on the cupola of the tank. In this way the risk of drone attack was greatly reduced.
The tank commander takes a 360 degree view only through the cupola. In such a situation, he becomes a victim of drone attack. But this type of mesh shade provides considerable protection to both the commander and the tank. Because to destroy the tank, the drone or missile is fired on the cupola itself. The rest of the body of the tank is armoured, due to which attacking there does not cause much damage.
After the Second World War, questions were constantly being raised on the usefulness of the tank. But in the Ukraine war, the Russian army fought a decisive war with the help of tanks and used tanks to capture a large part of Ukraine. Similarly, after the October 7 attacks, the Israeli Army has also used a large number of tanks for ground attacks against Hamas. However, Hamas has also tried to set fire to some Hamas tanks in the Gaza Strip. Last Wednesday, Hamas claimed that two Israeli tanks and four military vehicles had been destroyed in bomb attacks in northern Gaza.