Feb 09, 2026
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Although drones have shaped the Russia-Ukraine War, the backbone of both militaries is still their armored vehicles, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and self-propelled howitzers. Indeed, armored vehicles are central to assaulting or defending terrain, while drones play a supporting role in these operations. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of drone strikes has limited the employment of armored vehicles, contributing to the current battlefield stalemate. In response, both Russia and Ukraine have modified their armored vehicles to protect against drone strikes. The most recent adaptations, known as hedgehog tanks, use large numbers of protruding wires extending from the vehicle to disrupt FPV drones as they approach. This method has shown some success, prompting both sides to develop new drone tactics and specialized munitions to defeat these vehicles.
Russian and Ukrainian Hedgehog Tanks
The hedgehog tank design is the latest in a sequence of physical measures intended to protect armored vehicles from drone strikes. Early in the conflict, both sides experimented with cope cages, which were simple metal frames mounted over turret roofs to interfere with top-attack weapons, similar to the RPG cages used during the Global War on Terror. As drone strikes became more precise and lethal, Russian forces expanded these cages into what became popularly known as turtle tanks, in which vehicles were almost completely enclosed in metal frameworks and sheet steel. These vehicles were extremely heavy and achieved greater survivability at the cost of significantly reduced maneuverability.
The hedgehog tank represents the next step in this progression. Instead of cages or enclosed shells, these vehicles are covered in dense clusters of metal spikes, wires, or frayed steel cables that protrude outward in all directions, loosely resembling a hedgehog’s spines. In most observed cases, the spikes extend roughly 30 to 60 centimeters from the outer surface of the vehicle, with some improvised versions extending even farther to increase stand-off distance. Some versions further include large canopies, which provide stand-off from munitions dropped from bomber drones.
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This design has proven effective against both FPV drones and smaller bomber drones. As an FPV drone approaches, it is likely to strike a spike first, causing it to detonate early, break apart, or lose control. Against bomber drones, the dropped munition impacts the canopy or spikes rather than the hull, detonating farther from the vehicle and reducing the effectiveness of smaller munitions.
These hedgehog add-ons are generally field-made with soldiers welding bundles of steel cable, rebar, or wire to existing cope cages or anti-drone mesh already mounted on the vehicle. The materials are inexpensive and widely available, allowing rapid experimentation and local variation. The bundles are typically arranged and colored to match the local terrain and foliage.
Hedgehog protection has been spotted on Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks operating in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. There have also been recent videos posted on social media showing Russian ground robots outfitted with hedgehog-style protection. More recently, Ukrainian forces have similarly adopted hedgehog-style protection, with videos on social media showing Ukrainian forces welding this armor to their tanks. Another recent video shows a Ukrainian M113 with these protective measures driving down a highway.
New Drone Tactics And Munitions To Counter Hedgehog Tanks
Hedgehog-style protection was developed primarily as a counter to FPV drones, fiber-optic guided drones, and small bomber drones carrying relatively light munitions. However, more substantial loitering munitions, such as Switchblade and Lancet systems, generally retain enough mass, velocity, and warhead power to penetrate through the spikes and detonate effectively. Similarly, larger improvised munitions, including anti-tank mines dropped from heavier bomber drones, have also demonstrated an ability to overcome hedgehog defenses through sheer explosive force.
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As a result, both sides have adapted by increasing coordination between different drone types. A common tactic now involves an initial FPV drone strike intended to damage, destabilize, or partially clear the hedgehog structure, followed by subsequent attacks using drones carrying heavier munitions. This sequencing improves the probability of a successful kill by exploiting the limitations of the hedgehog design, which is most effective against single, light attacks rather than layered or repeated strikes.
One notable development has been the increasing use of explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) mounted on drones. An EFP uses a shaped explosive charge to form a high-velocity metal projectile capable of penetrating armor at significant stand-off distances. Unlike traditional shaped charges, EFPs are less sensitive to precise impact angles and can remain lethal even when detonated slightly farther from the target. According to a social media video, Russian forces have developed an EFP designed to be fitted onto a fiber-optic drone. These systems allow the drone to detonate upon contact with hedgehog spikes while still generating a penetrator capable of passing through the wire barriers and striking the underlying armor.
Exploiting The Vulnerabilities In Hedgehog Tanks
The hedgehog design was intended to be a significantly lighter alternative to the turtle tank, allowing armored vehicles to retain maneuverability while gaining protection against drones. Although it is lighter than fully enclosed designs, it still imposes a substantial weight increase. This added mass reduces speed and agility and introduces maintenance problems, as powertrain components are forced to carry loads beyond their original design limits. One Russian operator of a hedgehog-modified tank reported that he was only able to drive approximately 10 kilometers before the drivetrain failed due to the excess weight.
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The added weight and bulkier geometry introduce new vulnerabilities that can be exploited without relying solely on drones. Heavier hedgehog-equipped tanks face greater difficulty during bridging operations and are less likely to be successfully rafted across rivers. The additional mass also reduces their ability to climb out of anti-tank ditches, making traditional obstacles more effective. Off-road mobility can be degraded as well, especially in soft terrain where weight distribution is already a limiting factor. Russia has acknowledged these weight issues, with the new “dandelion tank” design replacing the steel spikes with fiberglass to reduce weight while preserving much of the same stand-off benefit of the hedgehog design.
The Russian and Ukrainian efforts to protect armored vehicles from drones mirror Coalition efforts to protect vehicles from IEDs during the Global War on Terror. In each case, the adversary rapidly adapts to circumvent new protective measures while exploiting the vulnerabilities those measures introduce. In this case, the hedgehog tank increases vehicle weight while providing protection primarily against conventional FPV drones and some bomber drones. These weaknesses are already being exploited as new tactics and munitions evolve to defeat the hedgehog design. Similar to the counter-IED struggle in the Global War on Terror, the utility of this battlefield innovation is temporary, and Russia and Ukraine will need to continually develop new solutions to protect their vehicles from drones.
I wonder how this hedgehog tank would work against a Javelin? I suspect Ukraine have more Javelins than russia has operational tanks.
Dragon drones also could fire up those junk tanks.