Chinese Tank's Active Protection System Seen Intercepting Drone-Fired Rocket Propelled Grenade
The video of the GL-6 testing, seen below, first began circulating on social media yesterday after being broadcast by state-run television outlets in China. The footage shows variants of the Soviet-designed RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade, or of the Chinese copy, the Type 69, being fired at a Type 96 tank, or at least the turret from one, fitted with the APS. The rocket-propelled grenades are seen fired from a commercial-style hexacopter drone, as well as a test fixture at ground level. One clip notably shows the GL-6 engage a top-down threat and then quickly shift to respond to one coming in laterally.
China's GL-6 active protection system (APS) tests has been released.The program includes intercepting top-down and horizontal attacks. The GL-6 system is designed to counter various threats, including ATGMs and RPGs, even those launched from drones. pic.twitter.com/w8Pwg9126v
— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 7, 2025
At its core, the GL-6 consists of two main components, turreted launchers that fire projectiles with explosive warheads and an array of small radars to detect incoming threats and cue turrets to engage them. Many hard-kill APS designs on the market globally, such as the combat-proven Trophy from Israel's Rafael, use some combination of projectiles designed to destroy or at least disrupt their targets and associated sensor arrays. Israeli firms have been and continue to be particular pioneers in this space.
Detailed shots of the
VT4A1 tank vehicle APS (Active Protection System) exhibited by China North Industries Corporation at the Defense Military and Police Exhibition (IDEAS) in Karachi, Pakistan
pic.twitter.com/8zB5HcHGjg
— Sajawal Rana (@Saju__302) November 18, 2022
Footage from testing of China's GL-6 active protection systemThe system is used to protect PLA armored vehicles from infrared- or laser-guided anti-tank missiles and other precision-guided munitions capable of penetrating armor. pic.twitter.com/BNXCwDSSBJ
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) November 17, 2024
The GL-6's turrets are designed to allow for high-angle engagements against top-down threats. Chinese media reports say that the system is capable of defending against anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), infantry anti-armor rockets, rocket-propelled grenades, and uncrewed aerial threats like loitering munitions.
The GL-6 is not new, having been seen publicly displayed since at least 2022. There is evidence that it has been tested, if not fielded on several Chinese armored vehicles already. This includes the Type 99/ZTZ-99 main battle tank and a new infantry fighting vehicle capable of being air-dropped that first emerged last year, the official designation of which is not yet known. It is also being offered for export, including as an option for the VT-4A1 main battle tank.
#China has modernized the Type 99 main battle tank (ZTZ-99).The tank is equipped with a new GL-6 active protection system against anti-tank missiles and high-explosive fragmentation shells. The GL-6 includes two launchers and four threat detection radars. pic.twitter.com/H23tpIkOlH
— OSINT Expert (@OsintExperts) September 28, 2024
China unveiled a new airborne Infantry fighting Vehicle equipped with GL-6 active protection system (APS) during Chinese president visit to PLAAF's airborne forces command.#PLA #China #defense pic.twitter.com/H5b0KNxF2d
— Global Defense Agency (@Defense_GDA) November 5, 2024
An advanced variant of Chinese VT-4 main battle tank VT-4A1 is being displayed at Zhuhai Airshow 2024.It is equipped with advanced Active protection system (APS), Remote controlled weapon sys (RCWS) and drone jamming systems.#ZhuhaiAirshow2024 #airshow2024 #China pic.twitter.com/iaNfd0b9EG
— Global Defense Agency (@Defense_GDA) November 3, 2024
Hard-kill APSs are already becoming an ever more common feature on tanks and other heavy armored vehicles around the world, just due to threats posed by the steady proliferation of increasingly more capable ATGMs and other infantry anti-armor weapons. Within this, there has also been work to expand the ability of APSs to tackle threats with specialized top-down-attack capabilities, as well as typical lateral attack profiles. A prime example of the former is the U.S. TOW 2B anti-tank missile, which has a tandem warhead that detonates downward as it passes over its target.
There is also just the danger of enemy forces using high ground to launch high-angle top-down attacks, especially in dense urban environments. The tops of tanks and other armored vehicles are typically their most vulnerable points and their crews often have limited situational awareness even in open field conditions, especially if they are buttoned up inside the hull for added protection.
In addition, as noted, the new GL-6 testing footage highlights the additional role defensive systems could play against similarly expanding dangers posed by uncrewed aerial systems. Drones, especially highly maneuverable FPV kamikaze types, can be used to conduct both top-down and lower-angle attacks.
Though the threat of drone attacks, including on armored vehicles specifically, is not new, something TWZ regularly highlights, the ongoing war in Ukraine has been instrumental in thrusting that reality into the public consciousness. Both Russian and Ukrainian forces now make daily use of FPV kamikaze types, as well as weaponized commercial designs capable of dropping small munitions. Various tiers of armed uncrewed aerial systems are now a common feature in hotspots globally and new advances driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning promise to make them even more deadly, as you can read more about here.
Reposting this video showing a Russian T-80BVM tank with a roof screen and deploying smoke surviving multiple FPV hits and misses.https://t.co/nS5v1Vx15F https://t.co/YpwuUrelOT pic.twitter.com/A6ethi6l0O
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) December 13, 2023
A Ukrainian drone from the 79th Air Assault Brigade drops a 40mm HEDP grenade on a Russian UR-77 Meteorit, causing a catastrophic payload explosion. pic.twitter.com/SsaQCKXsNL
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) August 14, 2023
China has already clearly been taking note of what is happening in Ukraine and elsewhere when it comes to its own expanding drone capabilities, as well as ways to defend against them. Chinese media has shown several videos in the past year or so highlighting new training for members of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the use of FPV kamikaze drones in particular.
The Chinese army has released video from a UAV training base where FPV drone operators are honing their piloting skills.The footage shows pilots practicing combat stunts and improving their control skills. Aerobatic stunts include 'snake' flying in confined spaces, flying… pic.twitter.com/Nkiyn22sHU
— Zlatti71 (@Zlatti_71) January 22, 2025
Chinese PLA troops train with FPVs for bomb dropping and situational awareness, including operating from moving armored vehicles.But I'm sure Western militaries are exercising hard to better understand the use of FPVs as well… pic.twitter.com/m3C4uJ67Nv
— Roy
(@GrandpaRoy2) December 29, 2024
Chinese PLA soldiers on counter-FPV drone training. pic.twitter.com/Ft43f3IQyW
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 27, 2024
When it comes to adding additional defenses to armored vehicles, various Chinese types have already emerged sporting so-called 'cope cage' anti-drone armor screens. Copes cages first appeared on Russian tanks in the immediate lead-up to the all-invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and have now become commonplace on both sides of that conflict. Such screens have been increasingly showing up on vehicles elsewhere around the world. Cope cage-type armor has popped up on platforms beyond ground vehicles, too.
A ZTZ-96A Tank With Cope Cage.The Chinese Army is widely installing cages on military vehicles. pic.twitter.com/DmdGeZb1E9
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△
(@TheDeadDistrict) February 1, 2025
Cope cage era arrives in Chinese PLA.ZBD-09 IFV spotted with cope cage. pic.twitter.com/5nZXzK9lwt
— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 7, 2024
With all this in mind, hard-kill APSs like the GL-6 continue to present a potential route to adding an additional layer of counter-drone defenses to tanks and other armored vehicles, many of which already have such systems installed. In our feature last year, TWZ noted that there were already examples of defense contractors adding anti-drone capability to their APSs or at least looking to do so. This past October, Israel's Rafael notably announced that it had added new functionality to the Trophy systems specifically to enable it to defeat drone attacks.
It is important to note that hard-kill APSs, even just against ATGMs and other infantry anti-armor threats, are not a silver bullet solution in themselves. Modern armored vehicle design is defined by continually evolving layers of defensive capabilities.
The new GL-6 testing footage is the latest evidence of the general trend toward hard-kill APSs becoming not just valuable, but essential additions to tanks and other armored vehicles. This only looks set to be increasingly the case if systems like this can also demonstrate their ability to provide added protection against drones.
Contact the author: joe@twz.com
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