Executive Summary

The Russian army has effectively used cope cages* on military and civilian vehicles and launching platforms in the Ukraine war. This has resulted in their quasi-standardization in Russian doctrine. Meanwhile, their proof of concept in battle is driving a spread of the concept into other militaries across the globe. US, Chinese and British forces adopt, or plan to invest in technologies that are highly similar to cope cages in design and purpose. Russian forces continue to modify and evolve cope cages to improve effectiveness and adjust to changes in drone strike tactics.

*Improvised cage-like armor, made of rebar and other readily available materials, to protect against airborne munitions, most often in the form of explosive drones or drone-dropped ordinance.