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Time of India
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
What are Cope Cages? Is this the new battle tech? Ukraine war sees bizarre armor to outsmart deadly drones
Cope Cages are Ukraine's unconventional answer to one of modern warfare's deadliest threats — cheap, explosive-laden FPV drones. Born from battlefield necessity, these DIY anti-drone armors are welded onto tanks, Humvees, and Bradleys, turning them into makeshift fortresses. What began in 2022 as crude steel grids has evolved into engineered mesh shields and angled plates designed to deflect or detonate drones before impact. On the front lines, soldiers and mechanics are rethinking protection in real time, proving that in today's war, innovation isn't always high-tech — sometimes it's a steel cage, built by hand, that decides whether a vehicle survives. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Why cages are appearing on nearly every frontline vehicle The rise of 'cope cages' — steel frameworks bolted, welded, or strapped onto the tops and sides of vehicles — is directly tied to the explosion of cheap, lethal first-person-view (FPV) drones on the battlefield. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Still Chasing Random Stock Advice Online? Teji Mandi Buy Now Undo In 2024, Ukrainian military intelligence estimated that small explosive drones were responsible for disabling or destroying up to 40% of front-line armored vehicles. Russian forces reached similar conclusions, prompting both armies to adapt. The economics are brutal. A $500 FPV drone carrying a shaped charge can turn a $10 million Abrams or a Soviet-era T-72 into a smoldering wreck in seconds. The cages, often made from scrap rebar, salvaged fencing, or purpose-built steel plates, are a last line of defense against this imbalance. Live Events Cope Cages: Ukraine's strange-looking armor that's saving vehicles from drones Cope Cages are Ukraine's improvised yet increasingly sophisticated armor systems designed to protect military vehicles from deadly FPV drone strikes. These steel frames, mesh coverings, and angled plates — welded onto tanks, Humvees, and Bradleys — act as a shield to block or detonate incoming drones before they hit critical parts. First seen in 2022 as crude 'cage' add-ons, they've since evolved into battlefield-tested defenses shaped by trial, error, and necessity. From crude frames to battlefield craftsmanship The early versions of cage armor in 2022 were laughably basic — little more than welded grids that offered minimal coverage. By late 2023, workshops in Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia had transformed them into highly customized systems. Cages have been seen with angled deflectors to force drones off-course, layered mesh to detonate charges prematurely, and even rotating mounts designed to allow crews to fire through the grid. Some Ukrainian units now coordinate directly with metallurgical plants like Metinvest to source 8 mm hardened steel plates. These aren't just slapped on tanks — they're engineered to balance weight, visibility, and mobility. The goal: protect against a direct top-down strike without crippling the vehicle's suspension or blocking hatches. The Russian 'turtle tank' problem Across the front line, Russia has taken the concept to extremes. Their so-called 'turtle tanks' — T-62s and T-72s encased in full steel boxes with barely a slit for visibility — can shrug off some drone attacks, but at a price. The reduced visibility and added tonnage mean these tanks often crawl at walking speed and are easy targets for artillery or anti-tank missiles. Ukrainian soldiers joke that they're 'mobile bunkers without the mobility.' Yet, even with these drawbacks, the turtle tank concept reflects a grim truth: neither side can afford to ignore drone threats anymore. Effectiveness — and limits — of DIY armor Cage armor works best against single-strike drones with unmodified warheads. Against larger munitions, tandem charges, or multiple simultaneous hits, protection drops sharply. A Ukrainian Bradley commander admitted that while his cage armor had saved his vehicle twice from FPV drones, the third hit from a modified anti-tank grenade still penetrated. There's also the human factor. Cages can obstruct turret rotation, block optics, and slow crew evacuation. Some soldiers privately admit they feel 'safer but slower' — a trade-off that could be deadly if ambushed. The next phase: integration into official design What started as a DIY fix is moving into formal military doctrine. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has quietly commissioned design guidelines for anti-drone protection, while Western suppliers are exploring modular cage kits for Abrams, Leopard 2, and Bradley platforms. If this war continues into 2026, I wouldn't be surprised to see NATO exercises featuring tanks pre-fitted with factory-standard anti-drone cages. What this means for modern warfare The spread of cage armor in Ukraine is more than a tactical adaptation — it's a glimpse into the future of mechanized warfare. It signals that top-down aerial threats are now a permanent feature of the battlefield, one that even the most advanced militaries must account for. The next generation of armored vehicles will likely be designed with integrated anti-drone systems, combining passive cages, active electronic jammers, and automated counter-drones. For now, though, the steel grids and welded spikes rolling across the Donbas are a reminder that in war, innovation is rarely pretty — but often necessary. FAQs: Q1. What is Ukraine's DIY cage armor and why is it used? It's a steel framework added to vehicles to stop explosive drones from hitting them directly. Q2. How effective is Ukraine's DIY cage armor? It can stop or deflect some drone strikes but isn't foolproof against heavy or repeated hits.
Sydney Morning Herald
02-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Not like there's a Mitre 10 down the road': The mission to rebuild Kosciuszko's famous huts
For nearly 150 years, heritage huts in the high country of Kosciuszko National Park have saved lives and provided refuge to skiers, hikers and workers when the weather turned bad. In January, hiker Hadi Nazari, 23, survived nearly two weeks in the mountains, helped by two muesli bars he reportedly found in one of the 60 mountain huts. Now, 10 heritage huts destroyed by bushfires in 2019-20 have been rebuilt, with the completion of Round Mountain Hut last month. It was a community effort by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the latest generation of families, like the Bradleys and the O'Briens, who built and used the huts, and the conservation group the Kosciuszko Huts Association. NPWS project officer Megan Bowden said the huts, which date back to the 1870s, had saved many a life in the mountains. 'One minute it can be sunny, the next it can be a whiteout,' she said. 'People will ski and walk to these huts as a visitor destination, but they also provide a good shelter in bad weather.' The huts were also like 'little living museums' of the area's history. Bowden said they represented the many different uses of the land, 'ranging from the early graziers to timber getters, prospectors and the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, and then later those who built them for use for skiing and walking in the area'. Each hut had been built in its own style and from local materials – and rebuilt in that style after the fires, some using timber milled from burnt trees that had fallen nearby. 'So there are river stone huts down at Geehi on the Murray Valley, the log cabins at Pretty Plains and Vickerys Hut, and the split slab hut of Cascade Hut and Oldfields,' she said. After visiting Four Mile Hut, built in 1932, Environment and Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe said it was wonderful that the hut had been brought back to life just metres from its charred remains.
The Age
02-06-2025
- The Age
‘Not like there's a Mitre 10 down the road': The mission to rebuild Kosciuszko's famous huts
For nearly 150 years, heritage huts in the high country of Kosciuszko National Park have saved lives and provided refuge to skiers, hikers and workers when the weather turned bad. In January, hiker Hadi Nazari, 23, survived nearly two weeks in the mountains, helped by two muesli bars he reportedly found in one of the 60 mountain huts. Now, 10 heritage huts destroyed by bushfires in 2019-20 have been rebuilt, with the completion of Round Mountain Hut last month. It was a community effort by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the latest generation of families, like the Bradleys and the O'Briens, who built and used the huts, and the conservation group the Kosciuszko Huts Association. NPWS project officer Megan Bowden said the huts, which date back to the 1870s, had saved many a life in the mountains. 'One minute it can be sunny, the next it can be a whiteout,' she said. 'People will ski and walk to these huts as a visitor destination, but they also provide a good shelter in bad weather.' The huts were also like 'little living museums' of the area's history. Bowden said they represented the many different uses of the land, 'ranging from the early graziers to timber getters, prospectors and the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, and then later those who built them for use for skiing and walking in the area'. Each hut had been built in its own style and from local materials – and rebuilt in that style after the fires, some using timber milled from burnt trees that had fallen nearby. 'So there are river stone huts down at Geehi on the Murray Valley, the log cabins at Pretty Plains and Vickerys Hut, and the split slab hut of Cascade Hut and Oldfields,' she said. After visiting Four Mile Hut, built in 1932, Environment and Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe said it was wonderful that the hut had been brought back to life just metres from its charred remains.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
III Corps loads up for Army's 250th birthday celebration
Fort Cavazos, Tx (FOX 44) – The III Armored Corps is conducting rail loading operations in preparation for the Army's 250th birthday celebration in Washington, D.C. At Fort Cavazos' railyard, M1 Abrams, Paladins, Bradleys, and Strykers from the 1st Cavalry Division received a fresh coat of paint, underwent validation, and were carefully loaded and secured onto railcars for transport to the nation's capital. The Army is celebrating its 250th birthday on June 14 with multiple events. The national level celebration will include a day-long festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., a parade and a spectacular fireworks display. The festival will feature displays of Army equipment, military demonstrations, activities for kids, musical performances and a fitness competition. Parade planning is actively underway, and planners anticipate approximately 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, and 6,600 Soldiers to highlight the Army's 250 years of service to the nation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
US President Donald Trump's 79th birthday bash: Everything you need to know about the extravagant celebrations
Credit: Instagram/@realdonaldtrump President Donald Trump is finally getting the grand military spectacle he's long desired—and it's landing on his 79th birthday. On June 14, the U.S. Army will mark its 250th anniversary with a full-throttle celebration in Washington, D.C. , a plan that just so happens to double as a birthday bash for the commander-in-chief. Here's a breakdown of everything we know about what promises to be one of the most headline-grabbing events of 2025— Where and when is the party? Festivities are planned throughout the first week of June, but the main event falls on June 14—also Flag Day and Trump's birthday. According to a planning document obtained by Reuters, the day begins with a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by a fitness competition and an Army birthday festival on the National Mall, featuring military demonstrations and equipment displays. Credit: Instagram/@realdonaldtrump By evening, the streets of D.C. will fill with marching troops, tanks, and helicopters for a massive parade, ending with an enlistment and re-enlistment ceremony presided over by Trump himself, followed by a fireworks show. The military muscle It's set to be a military lover's dream. Per Army planning documents dated April 29 and 30, the parade will feature: 6,600 soldiers 150 vehicles, including M1 Abrams tanks, Strykers, Bradleys, Howitzers, and Paladin artillery 50 aircraft Historic military reenactors from every major U.S. conflict, from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror The heavier vehicles—like tanks—will avoid crossing bridges into the city. Instead, they'll join the parade near the Lincoln Memorial, according to the Associated Press. Army spokesman Steve Warren told the Washington Post that the vehicles would arrive in the region by train and be trucked into the city. Credit: Instagram/@realdonaldtrump What's it costing taxpayers? The price tag? Between $25 million and $45 million, according to Reuters. That figure covers the military logistics, but not the cost to D.C. for road repairs, crowd control, or cleanup. One official noted the parade alone added 'several million dollars' more to the Army's budget. Trump, for his part, dismissed cost concerns in a May 4 interview with NBC News, saying: 'Peanuts compared to the value of doing it... We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it.' A birthday… coincidence? The White House insists the date is no vanity project. 'My birthday happens to be on Flag Day,' Trump told NBC News. 'I view it for Flag Day, not necessarily my birthday. Somebody put it together.' Music, food & fireworks According to a May 9 National Park Service application obtained by Axios, the event will also feature: A concert on the Ellipse with 5-7 musical acts, likely country performers Food and drink stalls, restroom facilities, and shaded seating A parachute jump by the Golden Knights A fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. Why is this parade so controversial? Critics have long called Trump's parade obsession a show of 'authoritarian' symbolism. His initial attempt in 2018 was scrapped after the Pentagon estimated it would cost $92 million, with D.C. officials balking at the idea of tanks on city roads. As the Washington Post reported, Trump was obsessed with military parades after watching France's Bastille Day celebration in 2017: 'He eagerly leaned forward as he took in the spectacle… jumping to his feet and applauding with an enthusiasm that exceeded the response of those around him.' Despite claiming to cancel the 2018 parade due to cost, Trump tweeted: 'The local politicians who run Washington, D.C. (poorly) know a windfall when they see it... They wanted a number so ridiculously high that I cancelled it. Never let someone hold you up!'
