Armed conflict between Palestinian fighters and the Israeli military is nothing new. However, there was something relatively new in the massive Hamas attack on October 7 2023, namely that for the first time the Main Battle Tank (MBT) Merkava MK4 was 'beaten' by a drone, and what is meant was not a kamikaze drone.
As previously published, the FPV (First Person View) quadcopter drone flown by Hamas managed to release an RPG projectile right above the Merkava MBT's turret, which then stopped one of the best MBTs in the world after experiencing an explosion.
The Israeli military has so far provided 360 degree protection in the form of Trophy APS (Active Protection System) on its weapons, but who would have thought that Hamas would successfully learn the techniques used in the war in Ukraine.
It is interesting to observe how other armies of the world are already beginning to rely on the experience of the Russian-Ukrainian war and adapt to new conditions.
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) October 16, 2023
Photos show anti-drone cages on Israeli tanks. pic.twitter.com/3tNFkIv9Mv
Based on the conditions above, where fighting is still ongoing and there are plans for an Israeli military ground invasion into the Gaza area, a number of additional protective measures have been taken by Israeli cavalry troops, especially to protect against the threat of drone attacks targeting the top of the tank turret.
From photos circulating on social media networks, it is clear that several parts of the Merkava MBT dome are now equipped with "Cope Cages" anti-drone protection, which in fact was popularized by Russia on the T-72 and T-90 MBTs ahead of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Sure enough. Those are cope cages on Israeli Merkava tanks. pic.twitter.com/2XzkeTam8G
— Jack’s House Band of NAFO (@FluteMagician) October 16, 2023
The Israeli tanks massed near the Gaza border under the protection of Cope Cages reflect the changing nature of the conflict as more drones become available on the battlefield.
Photos of Merkava tanks taken on Sunday showed some of the tanks had strange metal roofs attached to the tops of their guns. Israel, like Russia also uses what is called Cope Cage or Top Attack Defense Screens.
The structure of this protection system consists of a screen mounted on a tubular pole attached to the tank dome. The top of the cage is a mix of metal mesh that maintains visibility of the tank hatch when opened, and a distinct corrugated metal ‘roof’.
Experts say this may have been an attempt to defend itself against quadcopter drones carrying grenades and other munitions.
The Ukrainian echoes.
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝔇𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇺🇲🇬🇷 (@TheDeadDistrict) October 7, 2023
An Israeli Merkava Mk4 tank was destroyed by drone. pic.twitter.com/KZyPg5W92W
Drones have changed the game, not only expensive and large drones such as the American Reaper or the Turkish Bayraktar TB2, but also smaller and cheaper quadcopter drones that are commercially available.
Sophisticated protection systems have not functioned optimally in protecting tanks from cheap quadcopter drones that fly overhead and drop homemade explosives onto one of the tank's weakest parts. That's what Russia learned in Ukraine, and what Israel is preparing to do outside Gaza.
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