BMP-1 with prototype side skirts
In the 1970's and early 80's, Soviet AFV engineers were tasked with developing countermeasures to a new emerging detection threat: radar systems used to detect ground-based targets. Existing solutions, such as radiation-absorbing paint, were no longer deemed effective. One of the theoretical solutions was to design mountable louvre-type sideskirts. The layout was arranged to create a wave-like pattern, with each slat strip to be placed vertically at an angle. With this type of layout, the panel would diffract incoming waves within a high degree of asymmetry, scattering the wave. General design of the proposed louvre-style panel To confirm the theoretical results, full-scale measurements of the BMP-1's radar characteristics were done. One measurement without the louvre-style panels and the other with them. Only 70% of the new sideskirt was covered with louvre-style grills, which accounts for roughly 25% of the BMP-1's total side profile. The average effective surface w...