Drozd

It is considered the world's first operational active protection system,[1] created in 1977–78 by the KBP design bureau of A. G. Shipunov [ru] as Kompleks 1030M-01.

Its chief designer, Vasily Bakalov, was awarded the Lenin Prize for his work on its development.

[2][3][4] Drozd uses 24.5 GHz Doppler radar to detect incoming rounds travelling between 70 and 700 m/s (to avoid engaging small arms or other faster projectiles).

Each unit costs around $30,000, was 80 percent successful against incoming RPGs in Afghanistan, but caused too much collateral damage to surrounding troops that were dismounted from their armored vehicles.

The project was abandoned by the Army, but completed by the Soviet Naval Infantry to increase protection for about 250 older T-55 tanks in 1981–82 (newer T-72s were problematic on landing craft, due to size and weight, and $170 million Drozd development was much cheaper than a commencement of an all-new time-consuming tank design).