Kontakt-1

Kontakt-1 is a first generation ERA, which means it is used as appliqué ‘bricks’. The second generation successors, such as Kontakt-5 and Relikt have heavier built-in discharging plates.[1]

The ERA system is in fact hundreds of standalone containers (often called as ‘bricks’). Each container includes two 252×130×10 mm ERA panels fit with some angle between each other. A panel is 5.4 mm thick 260 g explosive (85% hexogen) liner surrounded by 2.3 mm thick steel sheet. The container is 5.3 kg and full complect weight is 1.2 to 2 tons depending on number of the containers[2][3]

The explosive liner is highly insensitive, so it doesn't explode from bullets or fragmentation. Even tank ammunition cook-off doesn't detonate the ERA. This also prevents chain effect for Kontakt-1, but also makes it useless against kinetic energy penetrators. However, due to the fragility of the blocks, they can be easily wiped out by a hit: a tank HEAT round can destroy up to 85% of all the ERA from tank front.[3][1]

When a jet stream hits the explosive liner, it explodes and throws the metal plates at the stream obliquely, so it is deformed and unfocused and loses its energy. Its efficiency is low at a straight angle and rises dramatically with angle changes, so that is the reason Soviet tanks have a prominent wedged ERA configuration on their turrets.[3][1]

Kontakt-1 is only efficient against regular non-tandem shaped charges and has no effect on KE penetrators. According to the manufacturer, Kontakt-1 generally reduces penetration by 86% for Konkurs-type ATGMs, by 92% for rocket grenades and 52% for tank HEAT rounds.[3][1]

Advantages

Highly insensitive Kontakt-1 can even survive after ammo cook-off

• Can be easily attached to any vehicle by its crew;
• has much greater protection/mass ration than regular armor;
• is safe as doesn't explode from mechanical damage, firearms, fragmentation and even ammo cook-off;
• immune to chain reaction.[1][2]

It's widely believed that Kontakt-1 was inspired by Israeli Blazer which had proven efficient during the 1982 Lebanon War and the USSR received an Israeli Magach tank and managed to design its own ERA. However, the version is not accurate: USSR started its researched on ERA in 1950s and the first tests were made in early 1960s.[1]

Interestingly, one of the employees involved into the process was somebody named Bleyzer G. A. (Russian: Блейзер Г. А.) who later moved to Israel. His last name sounds similar to Israeli Blazer ERA, but there is no proof that it is not just a notable coincidence.[1]

NII Stali was working on an integrated KDZ-68 ERA since 1960s. It was highly effective but it was not eligible to be mounted onto tanks. At that time, T-64 and T-72 armor was strong enough and the priority was to reduce the weight of the tanks. So, for several reasons including an unverified claim that contemporary Soviet Chief marshal of the armored troops Hamazasp Babadzhanian was totally against explosive armor, it was abandoned. But in late 70s Soviet armor was not strong enough against new Western guns and ammunitions so in 1982 (actually, before the Israeli Blazer appeared in the USSR) it was decided to test a new ERA system and in 1985 the first Kontakt-equipped T-64BV was put into the service.[1]

All the countries which possess T-55AMV (see T-54/55 operators), T-62MV (see T-62 operators), T-64BV (see T-64 operators), T-72AV, T-72B, T-72AMT, T-72EA, T-72UA1,[4] T-72MS[5] (see T-72 operators), T-80BV (see T-80 operators) and some other tanks, are the operators of Kontakt-1.

Due to the modularity and installation simplicity, it's a common practice to put it on different vehicles in the field or factory conditions to increase protection.[6] During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, both sides use Kontakt-1 to provide additional protection for different vehicles.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Even some production vehicles equipped with more advanced Kontakt-5/Relikt ERA, such as T-72B3, receive additional Kontakt-1 at factories.[14]

• 
  T-64BV
• 
  T-72AV
• 
  T-72B
• 
  Т-80БВ
• 
  T-72M1R upgraded with Kontakt-1 in Ukraine
• 
  Ukrainian T-72AMT wielding both Nizh and Kontakt-1

• Kontakt-5
• Relikt
• Nizh