The Ukrainian military is using the American "Javelin" anti tank missile to improve its anti armor tactics. The target of this live fire training is very special, equipped with temporary protective armor. This type of protective armor is similar to the grille structure that has recently appeared on Russian tank turrets, and these Russian tanks equipped with top protective armor also appear in areas near the Ukrainian border. The "Javelin" anti tank test conducted by Ukraine is due to concerns that Russia may launch new military actions on its territory. If the Ukrainian government continues to fight against Russian backed militias in the Donbass region in the east, it will use this American made anti tank missile. The video of the live fire training of the "Javelin" anti tank missile appeared on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian Joint Forces News Service. The homepage of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces provides more details, indicating that the shooting location is located in a training ground near the front line in eastern Ukraine.

The shooting distance is about 1600 meters, although this missile has been proven in actual combat to be able to hit targets at 4500 meters. Obviously, the troops participating in this live fire training have not previously launched the "Javelin" missile. They are about to deploy to the Donbass region and are receiving relevant training. Of particular interest is the target to be shot this time, which appears to be a Cold War era tank turret - possibly from the T-64 main battle tank - mounted on the chassis of a BTR armored vehicle. The top of the turret is equipped with special grille armor from Russian tanks, and now more and more Russian tanks are adopting such top protection devices. This target is also equipped with side grille armor, which has become a common configuration in conflict areas of Libya, Syria, and Iraq, mainly used to defend against armor piercing shells launched from the side, especially RPG-7 rockets. The video shows that a "javelin" seems to have missed. However, when the target was hit by the "javelin" missile, most of the grille armor installed on the top was torn off, and the vehicle caught fire, indicating that it had been successfully destroyed. However, it is still unclear whether this target is representative, but at least in terms of top grille armor, it is very close to recent Russian military tanks. The targets used by Ukraine this time do not seem to be equipped with any additional defense devices, such as explosive reactive armor (ERA), let alone advanced countermeasures, such as active defense systems that detect incoming missiles and launch some counter ammunition. At the same time, the basic armor protection level of the target is at least one generation behind the oldest tanks that the Russian military may use in any armed conflict. Moreover, the target only demonstrates very limited stability through a simple combination of tank turret and BTR chassis.

The most important thing is that we don't know how much time this target has been used, which has nothing to do with whether grid armor has been added at the top. In terms of its nature, targets like this may have been hit dozens of times until they are completely destroyed. Even using less powerful weapons for shooting will weaken its level of protection. The defense method that has recently appeared on the top of Russian tank turrets is grid armor,In addition, as we have discussed in the past, although the "Javelin" anti tank missile attacks from the top of the tank, the grille armor installed on the turret is likely only for defense against cruise missiles or other unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with ammunition. Meanwhile, as we have previously pointed out, the added grid armor at the top of the turret will still to some extent reduce the effectiveness of certain top attacking anti tank missiles. The "Javelin" anti tank missile can shoot directly at the target or use a high throw trajectory to launch a dive attack from a higher position, utilizing the weaker top armor of tanks and armored vehicles to destroy them.

Although the grille armor on the top of the tank turret may interfere with the timing of the warhead explosion of the Javelin missile and reduce the probability of destruction. However, relying solely on such simple grid armor is unlikely to effectively defend against this advanced anti tank missile, and the video released by the Ukrainian side seems to confirm this analysis. However, I would like to remind everyone again that this is only a temporary target and does not represent the general protection level of the Russian army's main battle tanks. Considering this, the live fire training video released by the Joint Forces Press Office itself is likely to have both promotional significance and a targeted test of the "Javelin" missile striking Russian tanks. Ukraine's acquisition of the "Javelin" anti tank missile is considered an important factor in any future armed conflict with Russia. This type of missile has been put into practical testing by the Ukrainian military. Last month, the head of Ukraine's highest military intelligence agency officially launched "Javelin" missiles at Russian backed militia groups by the Ukrainian military deployed in the Donbass region. In 2018, the US government decided to sell the "Javelin" anti tank missiles to Ukraine due to a significant change in policy. However, it was not until last year that the US government allowed the Ukrainian military to use these weapons on the Donbass front and required them to be 'defensive'. Previously, it was stipulated that the Ukrainian military could only use this missile in the event of a large-scale invasion by Russia. Now, the Ukrainian army has put the "javelin" missile into actual combat, which is undoubtedly seeking to use the popularity and advanced performance of the "javelin" to provide an important psychological deterrent effect and warn any potential aggressor. In addition, the timing of the release of this training video is very important. Nowadays, a lot of international attention is focused on Russia's deployment of heavy armored forces, artillery, air defense systems, and even long-range missiles near the Ukrainian border. Meanwhile, US intelligence agencies have warned that the number of Russian troops deployed in the region could increase to about 175000 and plan to launch a multi line offensive as early as early next year.

This is not the first time that Russia has deployed a large number of troops and equipment to the border areas of Ukraine. Similar actions in April this year have raised concerns about a possible invasion. However, for now, the tension has once again escalated. Russian President Putin emphasized on December 23 that he is willing to intervene if he believes Ukraine or its Western allies are preparing to launch an attack on Russia's proxies in the country. Putin also put forward various other highly concerning propositions and demands, which were not raised during the Russian military's assembly a year ago.If the Russian ground forces cross the Russia Ukraine border, the Ukrainian army's "Javelin" anti tank missiles will become a key defense line to defeat any armored invasion. On the other hand, even though tensions have eased, the Ukrainian government is still actively cracking down on separatist armed groups in the eastern part of the country. The heavy armored forces used by the separatist armed forces have always been an important force in conflicts, and the effectiveness of the "Javelin" anti tank missile has been verified in actual combat.

Source: Military of Strong Countries