Russian submarines have been fitted with armour to protect against drone attacks, according to multiple media reports. There has been an increase of drone attacks on both Ukrainian and Russian targets in recent weeks.
Such “cope cages” as they are known, are common features on land vehicles used by the Russian and other national armies. Media reports refer to the Russian television footage of the Delta-IV class nuclear ballistic missile submarine, which showed the drone defence cage on the sub’s conning tower.
Defence publication The War Zone reported that this appears to be the first use of such protection on a naval vessel.
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Image of the Tula Delta-IV submarine (without cope cage) from the RIA Novosti archive and licensed under Wikimedia Creative Commons