Ukraine Copies Russia’s 'Dandelion' Tank Armour

Back in November, Russian forces began welding thousands of metal wires to metal frames and bolting these frames onto armoured vehicles. This so-called 'hedgehog armour,' produced from unwound aluminum cabling, is the latest anti-drone innovation in daily use ... at least until the newest 'dandelion armour' makes its first appearance along the front line.

Two months after the Russians pioneered the approach, a Ukrainian unit has welded hedgehog protection to an American APC—the second type of such armor to appear on the front.

The armour marks another Russian lead in the counterdrone race. After two years of getting slaughtered by Ukrainian FPV drones, Russian forces have become the war's leading innovators in vehicle protection—one factor behind their slow but steady territorial gains since 2024. Ukrainian units are now copying the designs.

Hedgehog armour looks ridiculous. From a distance, it has the appearance of hair—as though a vehicle is wearing a bulky, badly made wig.

But the armour works. The wires, which protrude a foot or more from their frame, can detonate incoming first-person-view drones a safe distance from a vehicle's hull. It may not defeat every drone, but it doesn't have to. By now, most Russian vehicles have layer upon layer of add-on anti-drone protection.

American APC Gets the Hedgehog Treatment

It's telling that more Ukrainian units are adding hedgehog armour to their own vehicles. A video that circulated online recently depicts an American-designed M-113 armored personnel carrier with all-around hedgehog protection installed on a metal cage that also offers its own protection.

"Such extra material is pretty heavy," Canadian drone expert Roy pointed out, "but the old vehicle seems to handle it easily."

Up-armoured M-113s represent at least the second Ukrainian hedgehog type to appear near the front. The first was a tank.

Source: EUROMAIDAN