In November 2021, defence analysts noticed that Russian tanks were sporting strange cages on top of their turrets.
Unmistakably, this was “slat armour”, or cage armour, designed to deflect incoming anti-tank missiles or shells, knocking them off trajectory, crushing their fuses before they hit the tank’s main armour or detonating them before they reach the tank.
Evidently, the armour has not been effective, as shown by conflict monitors who have identified hundreds of destroyed Russian tanks, many with the cages lying idly beside the wrecks.
For small missile and rocket-propelled grenade warheads, analysts say this kind of cage armour has a decent chance of success and is used by militaries the world over.
But why was it placed on the tank’s roof?
The type of shoulder-launched weapons that cage armour can stop, such as the rocket-propelled grenade launcher (RPG) are typically fired horizontally at the front, back or sides of a tank.
Some modern anti-tank missiles supplied to Ukraine, such as the Javelin and Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW) are designed to explode above a tank's thin roof armour – leading some observers to think the cages were a haphazard DIY defence against this "top attack".
But this might not be the case. In December, one Russian defence analyst had observed how cage armour would not stop a modern anti-tank missile.
Dmitry Litovkin told Russia's Tass news agency that slat armour was "less effective against tandem-charge high-explosive munitions", or weapons that have two explosive charges, one to blast away defensive armour, and a bigger, main charge.
That is exactly how Javelin and NLAW missiles work, suggesting the Russians might have had another defence in mind, possibly drones with small missile warheads attacking from above, or RPGs being fired from rooftops in urban battles, a problem Russia encountered in Chechnya.
On a Russian T-72 tank, frontal armour is the equivalent of about 500mm of steel, but on the roof it is far less – as little as 30mm.
Top attack weapons
Modern anti-tank weapons such as the Javelin, which was already in service in Ukraine before the invasion, have what is called a “top attack” mode precisely for this reason – targeting thin top turret armour.
A number of analysts recently explained that the problem with these cages is that a lot of anti-tank weapons in use in Ukraine do not have a fuse in the nose – negating one of the cage’s protective methods of crushing the fuse.
The principle behind cage armour dates back to the Second World War when German tanks were fitted with “spaced armour” to destroy or deflect incoming anti-tank shells.
Arms research service Calibre Obscura describes the usual circumstances where the armour can work.
“Essentially the main thing with these cages is that they seek to replicate slat, or cage armour, which has genuine effectiveness when it comes to armoured vehicles, as it has the ability to disrupt some (but not all) RPG variants, such as the PG-7V and reduce the likelihood of a successful hit,” according to Calibre Obscura.
US forces briefly experimented with cage armour during the Vietnam war but decided it limited vehicle mobility because of its bulk and weight.
Lightweight cage armour variants, including aluminium armour, were later used by coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Why the cages can't stop Javelins
In the late 1980s, modern anti-tank weapons were developed to target tank turret roofs.
Some Russian tanks subsequently have explosive armour on their roofs to deflect missiles, but modern anti-tank weapons have a "tandem charge" that explodes to detonate the armour, before the more powerful main warhead detonates.
For the main warhead, missiles such as the Javelin and the NLAW use what is known as a shaped explosive charge which concentrates explosive power to defeat armour.
Test videos of American Tow missiles in top attack mode against Soviet era T-72 tanks show the missile exploding far above the tank’s roof – well above the height of any cage.
Sensors in the missile know exactly when it is flying over the target.
The Tow missile explodes several metres above the T-72, causing a catastrophic explosion. Similarly, the top attack mode of the NLAW and the Javelin have a proximity fuse, meaning that it does not have to make contact with cage armour before detonating.
In both cases, a jet of superheated metal is directed into the tank – capable of penetrating hundreds of millimetres of steel. Any cage therefore, would be rendered useless.
Calibre Obscura believes that even in cases where the slat armour could be useful, perhaps against small "kamikaze drones" or small munitions fired or dropped from drones, the DIY nature of the Russian cages could still be a fatal flaw.
Quality engineering "does not apply to the 'cope cage'," the group wrote, using a popular online term for the armour.
"The 'grill' appears to be less dense than proper cage armour and constructed from random household materials in some cases."
The US recently sent Ukraine Switchblade 600 loitering munitions, or "kamikaze drones", which can be used to attack the roofs of tanks, although there is no evidence they have been used in the conflict so far.
Match info
Bournemouth 1 (King 45 1')
Arsenal 2 (Lerma 30' og, Aubameyang 67')
Man of the Match: Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal)
Brief scores:
Everton 2
Walcott 21', Sigurdsson 51'
Tottenham 6
Son 27', 61', Alli 35', Kane 42', 74', Eriksen 48'
Man of the Match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
1971: The Year The Music Changed Everything
Director: Asif Kapadia
4/5
Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s
5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1:06.004
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 1:07.100
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713,
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW
Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2
Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC
Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66