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Russia Copies Ukraine’s Tank Armor, Patents It as Their Own “Innovation"—Then Calls It 1.5x More Effective
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia’s military has patented a foldable protective screen for tanks that closely resembles Ukraine’s widely used improvised anti-drone structure known as the “hood.”
The design, originally developed and deployed by Ukrainian forces, has now been replicated and formalized by Russia’s central military engineering academy.
According to Defense Express on July 10, the protective “hood” is a lightweight mesh screen installed on tanks and armored vehicles. Ukrainian forces have been using the system to counter drone-dropped explosives and FPV drones while maintaining the crew’s visibility and ability to exit the vehicle when necessary.
These screens are typically modular, collapsible, and easily mounted on various armored platforms.
Despite Russia’s preference for heavier and bulkier protective solutions, its military has now registered a patent for a near-identical design. The patent was filed by the Karbyshev Military Engineering Academy and includes a detailed description of a modular frame with a metal mesh cover, matching the Ukrainian configuration.
The document explicitly states that the Russian design offers “1.2 to 1.5 times” greater effectiveness in terms of combat efficiency relative to cost when compared to existing alternatives.
The patent outlines a hinged, multi-frame system mounted on the rotating turret of the vehicle. It includes steel mesh elements secured by tension cables, designed to disrupt incoming top-attack munitions, such as cumulative warheads, loitering munitions, and drones.
The description notes that the structure ensures mobility, ease of transformation into transport configuration, and does not exceed the tank’s standard dimensions.
While Russia has previously equipped tanks with overhead cage armor or improvised “grilles,” these designs have often been replaced in the field with soldier-made variants. The adoption of a more practical, collapsible system suggests a shift toward solutions already proven effective by Ukrainian forces.
The “hood” design has been observed on several Ukrainian platforms, including T-64 and PT-91 tanks. Its utility has been demonstrated in front-line engagements where drone threats have increasingly targeted the upper surfaces of vehicles.
Earlier, photos surfaced of a captured US-made M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle modified by Russia with a 30mm 2A72 cannon, replacing its original 25mm Bushmaster. According to The War Zone, the retrofit likely reflects logistical challenges in sourcing NATO ammunition and may serve more as propaganda than a practical battlefield upgrade.
