An electro-optical active protection system (ESAP), such as the Russian Shtora system, mistakenly works as a universal means of countering all anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). When fired at the frontal part
How Systems Like Shtora Work in Real Life
The E-O APS Missile Soft Destruction System is a soft destruction system designed to jam or deceive the guidance systems of certain types of missiles. It is a highly specialized system that works on a simple principle:
Detection: The system uses sensors to detect the launch of an ATGM and the laser or optical signals it’s using for guidance.
Infrared Jamming: Once a threat is detected, the system activates its powerful infrared (IR) lights, which are the prominent “glowing eyes” on the front of the tank. These IR lights emit pulsed radiation.
Deception: This pulsed IR light overwhelms the missile’s guidance system, causing it to lose track of the target. The missile’s seeker head becomes “confused” by the false signals and veers away from the tank, flying off course.
The crucial point here is that it only works against missiles that rely on optical or laser guidance.
Why It Doesn’t Counter Wire-Guided Missiles:
In game, the E-O APS is presented as a countermeasure against wire-guided missiles. This is fundamentally incorrect.
Wire-Guided Missiles: These missiles (like early versions of the Fagot or TOW) don’t use light or lasers. Instead, they are steered by commands sent from the launcher via a thin wire that unspools as the missile flies. The operator keeps a crosshair on the target, and the launcher’s computer sends corrections directly to the missile’s control fins through this wire.
The Flaw: Since there are no optical or laser signals for the E-O APS to jam or deceive, the system is completely ineffective. Trying to “jam” a wire-guided missile with IR light is like trying to stop a phone call by shining a flashlight at a phone. The physical wire is what transmits the control signals, not light.
Tanks Equipped with “Shtora”
The “Shtora-1” E-O APS is a feature primarily found on Soviet, Russian, and old version Ukrainian armored vehicles. It is not installed on Western tanks like the M1 Abrams or Leopard 2.
The system is famously equipped on:
T-80UD (old version) (Soviet/Ukrainian main battle tank)
T-84 (old version) (Ukrainian main battle tank)
T-90 (Russian main battle tank)
T-72B (select modernised versions)
Proposed Solutions
For a game to be truly authentic, it should accurately represent how these systems work. The simple rule is: a system designed to deceive light-based sensors cannot counter a missile guided by a physical wire.
If developers want to improve realism, they can:
Correct the Functionality: The best solution is to simply make the E-O APS ineffective against wire-guided missiles. This adds a layer of depth and tactical decision-making, forcing players to use different countermeasures like smoke grenades or active protection systems (APS).
