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Russian troops in Ukraine upgrade T-80BV tank with U.S.-made BRAT reactive armor

On November 4, 2025, Andrei_bt reported that a Russian T-80BV main battle tank had been equipped with several Bradley Reactive Armor Tiles (BRAT) modules mounted on a welded frame covering the turret and glacis, likely taken from a captured or abandoned M2A2 ODS-SA Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle previously operated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The uncommon but technically achievable field modification, likely performed by unit-level mechanics, could suggest a shortage of standard Russian Kontakt-1 or Kontakt-5 explosive armor blocks, leading crews to repurpose captured NATO components to maintain protection against shaped-charge threats. Read full defense news at this link...

The adaptation of BRAT modules onto the T-80BV required structural modification because the American armor tiles are designed for a completely different mounting pattern than that of the Russian tank’s Kontakt-1 system. (Picture source: US Army and Telegram/Andrei_bt)



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