As the threat of small, low-cost drones continues to grow on modern battlefields, the German and Japanese militaries are experimenting with improvised mesh installations on armored vehicles, also known as ‘cope cages’ in an effort to enhance passive defenses against drone threats.
Recent images published by the Die Bundeswehr in Bayern Facebook page show armored platforms from Germany’s 4th Logistics Regiment undergoing service in Volkach while outfitted with anti-drone mesh. Among them, a Marder infantry fighting vehicle has been fitted with chains and netting of various types.
The mesh appears to be designed to obstruct FPV drones – small, agile and often explosive-laden platforms that have become a deadly hallmark of the conflict in Ukraine.
A Leopard 2 main battle tank was also observed equipped with rooftop and side-mounted mesh structures, often referred to as “barbecue” or “grill” armor.
Unlike metal cages or slat armor traditionally used against rocket-propelled grenades, these new configurations lack rigid framing. The thickness and stiffness of the materials, as seen in photos, suggest only a modest level of protection, likely intended to disrupt or detonate drones before they can contact the vehicle’s surface.
The trials are reportedly part of an ongoing evaluation to assess whether such protection could serve as a viable, low-cost defense layer. These cope cages are currently being developed in an ad hoc manner, mostly by troops in the field, without major involvement from defense contractors or formal engineering teams.
Japan conducts parallel experiments
Germany is not alone in this exploration. On the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, tank crews belonging to the 7th Armored Division have begun testing similar anti-drone grill structures on their vehicles.
Images from a recent open day at the Higashi-Chitose garrison show both Type 10 and Type 90 main battle tanks fitted with metal-tubed frames covered in chain-link mesh. These upper structures are removable and have been locally assembled by military units, rather than procured from specialized manufacturers.
The 71st Tank Regiment (Type 10) and 72nd Tank Regiment (Type 90) are leading these trials. Japanese crews have indicated that the designs remain in an early phase, with adjustments ongoing based on field feedback and operational needs.
Like their German counterparts, they are focused on protecting vehicles from FPV drones that threaten even well-armored platforms by striking from above or targeting weak points like engine compartments and running gear.
Low-tech drone defense
The use of cope cages against drones is becoming increasingly common in light of the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where FPV drone attacks have inflicted high attrition rates on tanks and armored vehicles. These measures, while rudimentary, offer a cost-effective response to a FPV drone threats.
For now, both Germany and Japan’s experiments remain informal, and it is unclear whether these adaptations will evolve into standardized protective kits.
RELATED CONTENT: Germany Increases Ukraine Counter-Drone Support
Post Image Credit: Die Bundeswehr in Bayern
