As part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative, Metinvest has launched the production of protective screens for Soviet-designed MT-LB multipurpose armoured vehicles. These vehicles are widely used on the front lines and therefore require upgrades to meet modern battlefield challenges – particularly the threat posed by FPV drones.
The MT-LB is a lightweight tracked armoured vehicle commonly used both for transporting personnel and as a platform for various types of weaponry. However, its light armour offers little protection against today’s threats, making it a frequent target for kamikaze drones. To reduce such losses, Steel Front has developed and begun manufacturing special steel mesh screens that are mounted on top of the vehicle’s body.
While Metinvest engineers continue assembling these protective systems for the next batch of MT-LBs at specially equipped sites, eleven vehicles outfitted with the new armour have already returned to their units and are performing missions. Thus, two of the protected MT-LBs have been delivered to the 110th Territorial Defence Brigade, where they are used for evacuation operations.
“Tracked vehicles offer clear advantages over wheeled ones, especially in snowy weather, winter conditions, or terrain where wheeled vehicles can’t pass: mud, rain, or seasonal off-road conditions. Protection from drones is absolutely critical now, as they are fast, agile, and deadly. That’s why this kind of FPV shielding is urgently needed,” said Andrii Bystrik, press officer of the 110th Territorial Defence Brigade.
Protective screens designed by Metinvest engineers in collaboration with frontline crews are now shielding MT-LBs in combat zones. These screens are engineered to intercept blast waves before they hit the vehicle’s body, increasing the chances of saving both the crew and the machine’s operational capability. The structure is tailored to the realities of the front line: easy to install, does not obstruct visibility, and allows the vehicle to manoeuvre through challenging terrain.
“The MT-LB isn’t a new vehicle, but today it’s once again in use on the front line. Our mission is to make it more resilient. The protective screens we’ve developed aren’t a universal shield, but they offer a chance – a chance to survive a drone strike, a chance to evacuate the crew, a chance to deliver ammunition. In this war, every chance is a matter of life,” said Oleksandr Myronenko, Chief Operating Officer of Metinvest Group.
Metinvest’s Steel Front is already producing protective screens for vehicles like Abrams, Bradley, Roshel, and Kozak. The MT-LB now joins this line-up. The project continues to systematically address one of the Ukrainian army’s most pressing vulnerabilities – outdated military vehicles that carry out combat missions daily without modern protective systems.
