Tanks & Armored Warfare

Footage from military exercises involving the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) shows troops carrying out training activities with ZTZ-99A main battle tanks. The drills focus on the use and operation of China’s main battle tank, which is designed for modern armored warfare. The footage provides a look at the PLA’s armored vehicle training, though the specific location, date, and objectives of the exercises have not been confirmed in the provided source.

Footage shows two heavily protected Ukrainian tanks, commonly referred to as “turtle tanks,” attacking Russian positions. According to the source, the vehicles withstand multiple hits from FPV drones and mines during the assault. The tanks are accompanied by a heavy Vampire bomber drone, an FPV drone and a Mavic reconnaissance drone, which support the operation from the air.

Operators of Ukraine’s 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade reportedly destroyed a Russian tank using FPV drones. According to the brigade, a group of Russian troops used the tank to reach their positions before abandoning the vehicle and retreating on foot. The tank was subsequently targeted by Ukrainian FPV operators. The footage shows the drone strike on the abandoned vehicle.

Footage reportedly shows a Saudi M1A2S Abrams main battle tank being struck by a drone-operated munition near Marib, Yemen. According to the accompanying information, the attack was carried out by Houthi forces using a drone drop, with the strike reportedly triggering a detonation of the tank’s ammunition. The video captures the impact and subsequent explosion, although details surrounding the circumstances and damage have not been independently verified.

Footage circulating online shows a Ukrainian Leopard 1A5 tank sustaining FPV drone strikes while remaining operational. According to preliminary analysis, additional protective modifications on the vehicle helped prevent critical damage. In one episode, metal anti-drone bars caused the incoming drone to detonate away from the hull, redirecting the shaped-charge blast away from the tank itself. Another clip shows flames on the rear exterior section of the vehicle, though there are no visible signs of an internal fire or ammunition detonation. Based on the footage, claims about the complete destruction of the tank have not been confirmed.

Combat footage shows a pair of FPV drones striking an armored tank position, resulting in visible armor penetration followed by a large secondary detonation. The video captures the moment of impact and the subsequent explosion as ammunition inside the vehicle detonates after the strike. The engagement demonstrates the continued use of FPV drones against armored targets in frontline conditions, with operators coordinating multiple hits to disable and destroy heavy equipment during active combat operations.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah militants reportedly destroyed an Israeli Merkava tank for the first time using an FPV drone. The strike is said to have triggered an internal ammunition detonation, resulting in the loss of the vehicle.

Mali is facing a major new escalation, as Tuareg rebels and the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM launched coordinated attacks across several parts of the country, including Gao and Kidal. Reports say the offensive targeted military positions, transport hubs, and other strategic sites, posing a serious challenge to the ruling junta and its Russian-backed security network. There are also claims that a Russian-linked Mi-35 helicopter was shot down near Gao, but this part has not been fully independently verified.

Footage shows two FPV drones striking a tank, resulting in a powerful explosion. The detonation occurs shortly after impact, producing a large blast visible on camera.

An FPV drone strike caused a catastrophic ammunition detonation inside a Russian tank in the Pokrovsk direction of the Donetsk region. The blast resulted in a powerful explosion that tore off the turret and destroyed the vehicle.