Russian Arena-M APS Intercepts FPV Drones on the Front Line for the First Time

The Russian Arena-M active protection system (APS), which recently began being used on the front line, has reportedly managed to intercept FPV drones.

An X user with the handle kriegsforscherD reported on this.

During another attempt by Russian forces to launch a mechanized assault on Ukrainian positions, the Russian military once again deployed a T-72B3M tank, vehicle number 133, equipped with the Arena-M active protection system.

According to him, Ukrainian defenders used seven drones to deplete the APS’s interceptor munitions, while the total expenditure amounted to 15–20 FPV drones per vehicle.

“I spoke with one of the units that took part in that operation and saw how effectively this system works. Unfortunately, it does work,” Putiata wrote.

The press service of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) published footage of an attack on a Russian convoy, in which the SBU’s Omega unmanned systems unit destroyed enemy equipment. At the time, the enemy deployed seven tanks in an attempt to carry out a successful mechanized assault on Ukrainian positions.

Footage of the moment of engagement shows the vehicle moving with empty cells for counter-munitions. The Russian military has recently begun deploying T-72B3A tanks equipped with the Arena-M active protection system (APS) on the front line against Ukraine.

In July 2026, the Omega Special Operations Center of the National Guard of Ukraine destroyed such a vehicle for the first time. At the time, the enemy conducted its first mechanized assault on Ukrainian positions involving this weapon system.

Despite this, the system did not intercept any drones for unknown reasons. The enemy assault took place near the settlement of Maiak in Donetsk Oblast.

Arena-M Active Protection System

The Arena-M APS and its earlier variants have been developed in various configurations since the late Soviet period.

Despite numerous demonstrations of the system and claims that it would be deployed on a large scale, it was never integrated into combat units in serial production.

It is known that Russian designers had been working on integrating the Arena-M APS onto T-72B3 and T-90M tanks since at least 2019.

In 2024, individual T-72B3 and T-90M tanks equipped with these systems were spotted.

Despite claims that T-72 tanks fitted with the Arena-M APS had been sent to the front, they did not appear in combat operations at the time. Instead, the vehicles were used in the filming of a propaganda movie.

Live-fire testing of the system on T-72B3 tanks had already taken place in 2021, as confirmed by footage from a test range broadcast on Russian television.