German Military Tests Anti-Drone Nets on Armored Vehicles

The German Military is testing anti-drone mesh installations on armored vehicles to evaluate passive defenses against the growing threat of small unmanned aerial systems.

Photos published on the Die Bundeswehr in Bayern Facebook page capture armored vehicles from the 4th Logistics Regiment undergoing service at a facility in Volkach with various forms of improvised drone protection.

They include a Marder infantry fighting vehicle fitted with mesh netting of different sizes arranged in a circular configuration.

The aim, according to the media, was to assess the effectiveness of the netting as a potential defense layer.

Images also feature a Leopard 2 tank equipped with a rooftop and side-mounted mesh structure, commonly referred to as a “barbecue” or “grill.” Based on the design, the overhead net appears intended specifically to counter FPV drones.

The net was installed without a rigid frame, and its apparent thickness and stiffness suggest limited protective capability. A similar mesh was affixed along the tank’s sides to shield its running gear.

At present, anti-drone netting installations are being explored in multiple countries, typically at the unit level without input from defense contractors or specialized engineers. These efforts remain largely experimental.

Japan has also started evaluating similar concepts. In a recent example, Japanese armored units demonstrated anti-drone grills mounted on tanks during ongoing trials.

Tank crews noted that local units assembled the “barbecue” structures, which remain under refinement. The frames are made from metal tubing and covered with chain-link mesh. The upper sections are removable, allowing for quick dismantling if required.

The tanks fitted with these devices belong to the 7th Armored Division on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. The Type 10 is assigned to the 71st Tank Regiment, and the Type 90 to the 72nd.