Russia Unveils “Light Afganit” System to Shield Aging Tanks From Drone Strikes

Russia has showcased a “Light Afganit” concept aimed at protecting armored vehicles from FPV drones, according to the Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi, which reported on October 15 that Russian industry presented a compact, modular counter-UAV suite derived from the Afganit active protection system (APS).

The system, as described in open-source materials and social media posts, appears to combine detection sensors with electronic warfare effects and hard-kill options, tailored for older platforms that cannot carry the full Afganit APS used on the Armata family.

While Russian officials have not published formal specifications for the lighter suite, recent statements outline a broader push to layer counter-drone measures around maneuver units.

“The multi-layered system makes it possible to neutralize any aerial threats, minimizing risks to personnel,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in late September, describing radar crews, FPV operators and air-defense teams working in concert near the Pokrovsk sector. 

In parallel, reference materials on the original Afganit APS underscore its mix of radar, electro-optical sensors and soft-kill/hard-kill effects—capabilities which Russian media and industry writers have long touted as a basis for spin-off configurations. 

The unveiling comes amid visible experimentation by both sides to blunt, FPV strikes. A July 2024 survey by RFE/RL documented the rapid spread of ad-hoc gun mounts, cages and jammers on vehicles, reflecting the speed of adaptation at the front. 

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Russian outlets have also highlighted trials of directed-energy systems for facility defense, signaling interest in diversifying counters beyond jamming and kinetic intercepts. 

Independent verification of the Light Afganit module’s performance is not available, and no pricing, production timelines or fielding units have been officially announced. Nonetheless, the concept aligns with a trend Moscow’s defense press has emphasized for more than a year: distributing lighter anti-drone tools across legacy fleets rather than waiting for full-size APS installations. 

Earlier, it was reported that Russia intensified efforts to develop protective upgrades for helicopters against FPV drones after industry acknowledgments of rotorcraft losses.

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