The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that inexpensive FPV (First-Person View) drones can attack tanks from above, striking the turret roof — historically the most vulnerable point of the armor. In response to these developments, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is reshaping its armored vehicle protection strategies.
Technological countermeasures: The GL-6 system and intelligent brigades
To counter high-angle attacks, China’s defense industry is developing active interception solutions and networked systems:
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GL-6 Active Protection System (APS): Tests conducted by state-owned giant Norinco show that the GL-6 can intercept threats approaching from above (drones, loitering munitions, and missiles) and simultaneously engage simultaneous aerial and ground attacks.
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Intelligent combined brigade: Unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow, this concept integrates armored vehicles into a network of reconnaissance drones, electronic warfare (EW) assets, and counter-drone systems to detect and neutralize threats before impact.
Tactical adaptations and physical protection
Alongside high technology, the PLA is employing emergency physical and tactical solutions:
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Protective screens and cages: The use of metal cage covers, nets, and additional composite modules on vehicle roofs.Although effective, PLA publications emphasize that these structures entail drawbacks in terms of visibility, mobility, and weapon traverse.
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Camouflage and signature management: During tactical exercises, Chinese crews are trained to conceal vehicles in depressions, erect camouflage nets, erase track marks, and employ smoke screens to disrupt the drone tracking chain.
Outstanding challenges
The analysis highlights that no single technology provides complete protection. PLA researchers acknowledge several critical challenges:
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Limited engagement windows: Difficulty tracking and intercepting small targets within extremely short timeframes.
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Attack saturation: The high costs of interception systems risk being offset by swarms of FPV drones or fiber-optic-guided drones.
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Remaining vulnerabilities: Increased protection for tanks is prompting anti-armor forces to focus on support vehicles and logistics.
China's strategy is based on layered protection combining active defense (APS), modular physical protection, electronic countermeasures, and camouflage. The real effectiveness of this approach will depend on the speed with which China can transfer these innovations from the testing phase to operational units.
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