IDEX 2025: KBM confirms Arena APS operational in Russia, looks to export

Scaled model of the Arena-E on a T-72 main battle tank. (Janes/Christopher Petrov)

Russian arms manufacturer Kolomna Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau (Kolomna Bureau Mashinostroyeniya: KBM), part of Rostec State Corporation, told Janes that its Arena-M has been integrated onto the Russian army's T-90M main battle tank (MBT).

Speaking to Janes at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2025 held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 21 February, a KBM representative added that the company is keen to export the system coupled with tank exports from Russia or as part of an upgrade for current users of Russian and Soviet tanks.

The representative said the system works much like other active protection systems (APSs) on the market. It is made up of a radar suite mounted on top of the turret, above the frontal cheeks with additional sensors mounted at the rear, although the representative made clear the APS does not have a rear-facing radar. The rear of the turret has a module housing the APS' computing system. Inside the turret is a small interface that allows the commander to switch the APS on or off – otherwise the system is fully automated and requires no human in the loop.

The turret mounts two modules for the countermeasures effectors. On the demonstrator on KBM's stand, the system had up to 12 countermeasures effectors with six each on the left and right sides. Once a countermeasure is launched, the munition can manoeuvre using small pyrotechnic motors at its base to allow it to face the threat directly. The KBM representative said the company is confident the system can defeat top-attack anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and counter the ongoing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) threat against armoured vehicles.