As part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front initiative, Metinvest has launched production of specialised steel protective screens for armoured personnel carriers (APCs). These additions are designed to significantly reduce the threat posed by enemy kamikaze drones. Fourteen screens have already been manufactured, suitable for use on M113, FV432, and YPR-765 models.
The protective screens are mounted on the top of the APCs, forming a standoff barrier above the vehicle’s body. When a kamikaze drone strikes the screen, its explosive charge either fails to detonate or explodes at a safe distance, preventing critical damage to both the vehicle and its crew. Similar protective systems produced by Metinvest are already in successful use on Abrams, Bradley, and Leopard tanks.
“We’ve already produced hundreds of these screens for the vehicles used by Ukraine’s defence forces. They have proven highly effective – saving not just armoured vehicles, but more importantly, the lives of their crews. That’s why we’re continually scaling up production and designing protection for dozens of different vehicle models,” shared Oleksandr Myronenko, Chief Operating Officer of Metinvest.
Steel Front is actively supplying these protective screens to frontline units operating M113 APCs. At the same time, the team continues to improve the design, experimenting with different materials and screen configurations to maximise their effectiveness.
