Metinvest starts mass production of armor for Stryker armored vehicles

These designs are aimed at increasing the resistance of armored vehicles to kamikaze drone attacks

Metinvest Group has launched mass production of protective screens for Stryker armored personnel carriers in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) as part of its Steel Front military initiative. These designs are aimed at increasing the resistance of armored vehicles to attacks by kamikaze drones, which is one of the main threats on the modern battlefield, according to a press release from Metinvest.Media.

The new shields are the result of close cooperation between Metinvest’s metallurgists and the Ukrainian military and engineers. They are designed to meet the specifics of modern warfare and the potential threats faced by the Ukrainian military on the front line.

“The Stryker armored personnel carrier is a high-tech vehicle, but even the best equipment needs additional protection in modern warfare. We have developed a solution that improves the crew’s chances of survival during an FPV drone attack and have already started mass production of such systems,” said Metinvest Group Chief Operating Officer Olexander Myronenko.

The Stryker armored personnel carriers provided to Ukraine as part of military aid are characterized by high mobility and advanced electronic control systems. At the same time, their vulnerability to drone attacks has prompted the development of additional protection to reduce risks during combat operations.

Metinvest already has experience in creating similar protective systems for other types of equipment, such as Abrams and Leopard tanks, as well as M113 and Bradley armored personnel carriers. Analysts note that the protective grilles created for these vehicles have proven to be highly effective in real-world combat conditions, which is likely the reason for the decision to adapt this approach to the Stryker.

It is expected that the first modernized Stryker armored personnel carriers with the new protective screens will be tested in combat conditions in the near future, which will further enhance the protection of the Ukrainian military.

Earlier this year, Metinvest launched the production of special protective screens for armored personnel carriers. These designs will significantly reduce the threat from enemy kamikaze drones that attack vehicles from the upper hemisphere. So far, 14 such screens have been created, suitable for M113, FV432 and YPR-765 combat vehicles.

Over the three years of the full-scale invasion, Metinvest Group has allocated UAH 8.4 billion to support Ukraine. A significant portion of these funds – UAH 4.4 billion – was transferred to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the Steel Front initiative.