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Russia reportedly deploys 'steel hedgehog' tanks to counter drone threats; Chinese expert weighs pros and cons

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Liang Rui Published: Nov 10, 2025 06:02 PM

Recent foreign media reports on Russia's "steel hedgehog" tanks deployment have attracted media attention in China on Monday. The tanks, covered in thick metal cables in an apparent effort to counter drones, drew comments from a Chinese military affairs expert on Monday. He described the modification as a temporary yet practical stop-gap measure to address immediate threats, despite having both advantages and disadvantages.

Citing foreign media reports, chinanews.com reported on Monday that videos recently circulating on social media showed Russian tanks with special modifications.

A T-80BVM main battle tank was covered by spikes like a hedgehog, earning it the nickname "steel hedgehog" among netizens, the chinanews.com report said, citing images of the modified tank.

According to a Telegram post earlier this month, Russian forces have begun fielding modified T-72 and T-80 tanks equipped with elaborate anti-drone structures made from thick metal cables amid an extensive campaign of Ukrainian first-person-view (FPV) drone strikes, reported C-UAS Hub, a website on counter drone information.

The photos show T-80BVM and T-72B3 models fitted with mine plows, the TMT-K and KMT-7, and covered by dense frameworks resembling cages or "grills." These are wrapped in multiple layers of steel cables extending across the upper, rear and partially frontal sections of the tanks, even enclosing parts of their suspension systems. In one image, a T-80BVM appears to carry an electronic warfare (EW) system mounted above the cable armor, suggesting an effort to combine physical and electronic protection against FPV drones widely used by Ukrainian forces, C-UAS Hub reported.

The makeshift structures, which Russian troops reportedly refer to as "hedgehogs," are designed to tangle or damage drone propellers and frames, reducing the likelihood that an FPV drone's explosive payload will detonate on impact, the C-UAS Hub report said, noting that the concept marks an evolution from earlier "grill" or "shed" armor designs seen throughout the conflict, which often provided limited protection against direct strikes from above.

However, the new cable armor adds significant weight and bulk, raising questions about the tanks' mobility and maintainability in the field. Analysts have previously noted that similar modifications can strain engines and suspension systems, particularly when used on older vehicles, C-UAS Hub said.

Wang Yunfei, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Monday that the tanks heavily "fortified" with metal spikes could indeed offer a degree of extra protection effect against drone and rocket strikes. He noted that their performance would likely be superior to earlier "shed" armor designs.

Drones emerged as major threats to tanks and armored vehicles in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and when these tanks and armored vehicles were designed, this was not anticipated. So, the "steel hedgehog" modifications are temporary makeshift measures to practically adapt to the battlefield and address these actual threats, Wang said.

But just like foreign media have said, such modifications would inevitably affect the tanks' mobility as well as trafficability, Wang said. "However, this could be a tradeoff that has to be made," he said.

On the other hand, completely new design concepts are also emerging to address drone threats, such as the practical use of active protection systems on tanks, according to Wang.