2022 Nizh ERA enhances Ukrainian tanks’ defense

The protection of Ukraine’s tanks was strengthened by the Ukrainian Nizh explosive reactive armor. It was produced in 2022.

This was told by the Ukrainian tank crewman, who is known in Ukraine for his “Shawshank Redemption” YouTube channel.

The explosive reactive armor (ERA) demonstrated by the tank crewman was made in January 2022, even before the start of a full-scale invasion.

The military also added that he has not yet seen the Nizh ERA of 2023.

The third-generation Nizh ERA was developed by Ukrainian enterprises in 1997-1998, and adopted by the Ukrainian army in 2003.

This ERA affects the attacking ammunition, creating an oncoming shaped charge.

It occurs when detonating elongated shaped charges (i.e., “shaped charges knives”) laid in modules of reactive armor.

Such an impact is able to destroy or destabilize the attacking ammunition, significantly reducing its striking characteristics.

Before the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian army mounted Nizh ERA on T-64BM Bulat and Т-84 tanks.

The Nizh ERA can be used as part of built-in or mounted systems for reactive armor on tanks and combat vehicles of the light category.

Modules of Nizh KhSChKV-34 and KhSChKV-19 ERA are designed in the form of parallelepipeds in the sizes of 250x125x36 mm or 250x125x26 mm, weighing 2.8 kg and 2.1 kg, respectively. Inside them are installed profiled-shaped elements called “knives”, the total number of which reaches 7 units. The KhSChKV-34 modules shown in the photo are used to protect the frontal projection of the body and turret of the tank. The KhSChKV-19 modules are designed to protect the top of the tank turret.

Recall that the Leopard 2А4 tanks of the Ukrainian Defense Forces are also equipped with reactive armor. The installation of ERA modules should increase the survivability of the tank on the battlefield.