ERA
Explosive Reactive Armor
Explosive Reactive Armor consists of tiles containing explosive material that detonate outward when struck, disrupting the penetration jet of shaped-charge warheads.
Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) is an add-on armor system consisting of metal-backed tiles filled with a layer of explosive material. When struck by a shaped-charge warhead, such as those found in RPGs and anti-tank missiles, the explosive in the ERA tile detonates, driving the outer plate outward into the incoming jet of molten metal. This disrupts and disperses the penetration jet, dramatically reducing its ability to penetrate the base armor beneath.
First developed by the Soviet Union and used operationally by Israel in the 1982 Lebanon War, ERA has become standard equipment on tanks and armored vehicles worldwide. Modern ERA systems like Russia's Kontakt-5 and Relikt are designed to defeat not only shaped-charge warheads but also kinetic energy penetrators by deflecting the incoming rod through the lateral motion of the ERA's heavy flyer plates.
ERA has limitations: it is a one-use system that leaves gaps in protection after detonation, it can be defeated by tandem-charge warheads that use a precursor charge to trigger the ERA before the main warhead arrives, and its detonation can be hazardous to nearby infantry. Despite these drawbacks, ERA remains one of the most cost-effective ways to significantly upgrade the protection of older armored vehicles against modern anti-tank weapons.
Related Terms
APS(Active Protection System)
Active Protection System is a defensive system mounted on armored vehicles that detects and intercepts incoming anti-tank missiles and rockets before they strike.
Composite Armor
Multi-layered armor that combines different materials such as steel, ceramics, and polymers to provide superior protection against both kinetic penetrators and shaped-charge warheads.
HEAT Round(High-Explosive Anti-Tank)
High-Explosive Anti-Tank is a type of ammunition that uses a shaped-charge warhead to create a jet of molten metal capable of penetrating armored vehicles.
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