Shtora

Shtora is a Russian electro-optical countermeasure system designed to protect armored fighting vehicles from guided missiles that use laser designation or imaging infrared seekers. The name, derived from the Russian for “guard” or “watch,” refers to its role in warning and obscuring an enemy’s target acquisition. First fielded in the 1990s, Shtora-1 has been installed on various Russian tanks and export variants, including the T-80U and T-90 families, with later upgrades known as Shtora-2.

The system comprises laser warning sensors positioned around the hull and turret, an onboard control unit, and a set of soft-kill jammers or dazzlers. When the warning sensors detect laser illumination from a designator or rangefinder, the control unit activates the infrared jammers, emitting near-infrared light to saturate or confuse imaging infrared seekers. This interference reduces the probability of a hit by misguiding the missile’s sensor and complicating target acquisition. In some configurations, the system can also hinder semi-active laser guidance by presenting a strong IR signal.

Shtora is categorized as a soft-kill countermeasure, intended to complicate or defeat certain guidance methods rather than destroying the incoming threat. Its effectiveness varies with seeker type, engagement geometry, and environmental conditions, and it is typically used in conjunction with other protection measures.

Variants include the original Shtora-1 and the later Shtora-2, which added improvements in sensors and jamming patterns. The system has been adopted primarily by Russian military forces and exported in modified forms for various armored platforms.