Background blur is a commonly used tactic to hide the exact location of military vehicles.
Challenger 2 sighting details
The image shared on Twitter reveals a British Challenger 2 tank with a “protection cage” covering its turret. Although the author did not specify the location, it is suspected to be in Ukraine.
Blurring the image’s background is a commonly used tactic to hide the exact location of military vehicles and prevent their geolocation.
The photo is believed to have been taken from a moving vehicle. Including these “cages” is common in the Ukrainian conflict, where they are used to protect armored vehicles.
Context on British tanks in Ukraine
BulgariaMilitary.com recalled that the UK provided Ukraine with 14 Challenger 2 tanks without the aforementioned “cage.”
The model shown does not have additional armor, or TES – Theater Entry Standard. He promised to send Ukraine 14 tanks, also called Megatron, in this configuration.
Unconfirmed sources indicate that the UK has only 14 Challenger 2 units in TES configuration.
Statements about tanks in Ukraine
Challenger 2The Daily Express newspaper reported that the supplied Challenger 2s do not appear in combat reports and appear to have disappeared from public view.
Lieutenant Colonel Crawford and war correspondent Jonathan Beale, reporting from the Ukraine, have said they have no evidence of Challenger 2 tanks in the Ukraine.
The comments suggest that the Ukrainian military may not have deployed them in combat, which would imply that they could be located in another area.
Tank Challenges and Vulnerabilities
In July, there were reports of difficulties integrating the Challenger 2 into Ukrainian strategies due to restrictions from the British government.
Tanks, like the German Leopard 2, are susceptible to drone and mine attacks. Crawford highlighted the possibility of trouble if they deployed to the front.
The use of “protection cages” on turrets began in 2021 by a Russian tank brigade in Crimea.
Objective and effectiveness of the “cages.”
With the progression of the conflict in Ukraine, several vehicles incorporated “Cope cages”. The main objective is to protect them from drones and Javelin missiles attacking from above.
The effectiveness of these “cages” is unclear without direct data from successfully intercepted enemy attacks. However, images of the Russian Army-2023 show Russia has started mass production.
There is some evidence of its possible usefulness, such as an image of a Russian drone caught in one of these nets on a Ukrainian tank, preventing its detonation.
