Metinvest starts production of armor for US M113 armored personnel carriers

Special steel screens will help protect armored personnel carriers from FPV drone attacks

Metinvest Group has launched the production of special protective screens for armored personnel carriers as part of its Steel Front initiative. 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, according to a press release from Metinvest.Media.

The screens are mounted on the top of the armored personnel carrier and create a remote barrier that absorbs or deflects the impact of an explosive charge. This significantly increases the chances of crew survival and vehicle safety. Similar designs produced by Metinvest are already used on Abrams, Bradley and Leopard tanks, demonstrating high efficiency on the battlefield.

The M113 armored personnel carrier is one of the most widely used combat vehicles in the world. Its main advantage is its high mobility and ease of maintenance, but its aluminum armor is not able to withstand the impact of modern ammunition. FPV drones, which are actively used by the enemy, are capable of hitting the weak points of vehicles, so additional protection is critical.

“We have already produced hundreds of such screens for the equipment of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. They have proved to be the best way to save tanks and armored personnel carriers. And most importantly, they save the lives of the crew. That’s why we are constantly expanding production: we are currently creating protection for dozens of different models of vehicles,” said Metinvest’s Chief Operating Officer Olexander Myronenko.

Currently, Stalin Front is actively supplying protective screens to military units that use M113s at the front line. At the same time, a team of engineers is improving the design of the shields by testing new materials and shapes to maximize their effectiveness on the battlefield.

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 Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of the Steel Front initiative.

Metinvest remains the largest taxpayer in the industry: in 2024 alone, the company transferred UAH 19.8 billion to budgets of all levels, accounting for 61% of the total taxes in the steel industry.