The Russian Mechanical Design Bureau began to develop active defense systems as early as the early 1980s in the former Soviet Union. At that time, the Soviet army found in local conflicts and a large number of exercises around the world that the Soviet-made main battle tanks were absolutely sufficient in frontal defense, but other aspects of defense were far from enough. This is most prominent in urban warfare and complex terrain. During the Iran-Iraq War, Iraq and the National Guard were equipped with the most advanced third-generation main battle tank T-72. As a result, the troops equipped with this tank were beaten out of the water by Iran's RPG anti-tank rocket launchers in the urban war. The Iranians attacked the T-72 from the side and rear with RPG rockets. Even a street was covered with the wreckage of the T-72 after a battle. In Afghanistan, the resistance forces occupying the commanding heights can use all kinds of light anti-tank weapons to defeat Soviet tanks from the top and side of the weak armor of direct tanks.

The above-mentioned operational examples have greatly touched the military of the former Soviet Union, and it is felt that it is necessary to improve the protection level of main battle tanks with innovative methods, focusing on improving the protection level of anti-tank missiles and unguided infantry anti-tank weapons, and active protection system is the only choice for tank developers in the former Soviet Union. The technical performance of active defense listed by the Soviet military includes: automatic function; Counter the coming threat at the minimum allowable safe distance from the protected object; The reaction time of the system is short; High hit probability; Fully consider the specific characteristics and operating environment of the protected target and fully integrate with the protected target. Based on the above considerations, the Mechanical Design Bureau, which was responsible for the development of the system at that time, planned to design Type I as an ultra-close anti-missile system, and form an active defense zone at a safe distance around the vehicle.

As a result, the first generation of active defense system-"Thrushcross" type first appeared. Thrushcross active defense system performs well in the test, but its weaknesses are also obvious, such as only intercepting anti-tank rockets and anti-tank missiles; It is impossible to intercept high-speed anti-tank missiles and anti-tank ammunition of series warheads; Cann't intercept shaped charge armor-piercing projectile and high-speed sub-caliber armor-piercing projectile; The system is too heavy and can only be equipped on the main battle tank; Unable to defend against anti-tank weapons, etc. At that time, a new generation of active protection system-"Arena" was developed. Although its performance exceeded that of "Thrushcross" active protection system, it could not intercept sub-caliber armor-piercing projectiles, and the problem of overweight of the system was not solved.

The deeper problems were found in the subsequent experiments. Both the thrush active protection system and the arena active protection system have many limitations. First of all, they use projectiles to intercept ammunition, and it takes too long to intercept ammunition from launch to damage the incoming target, so it is difficult to ensure the destruction of high-speed anti-tank ammunition. Secondly, the system requires the reconnaissance radar to continuously detect, and the radar beam is easily detected and interfered by the enemy. Third, both Thrushcross and Arena are equipped with detection radars. Once the radar is damaged, the whole active protection system will fail.

Therefore, the former Soviet military requires scientific research institutes to develop an active protection system, which can be equipped on various armored vehicles and can defend against various anti-tank ammunition. 1987, the "Soviet National Technology Center Bureau" located in Kiev, Ukraine was formally requested by the military to develop a new generation of active defense system. At that time, the Soviet requirements were: to develop an active protection system, which could intercept incoming anti-tank missiles, rockets, artillery shells and smart mines that were still under development at that time, and ensure that armored equipment such as main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored transport vehicles were not attacked.

After the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, the project was taken over by Ukraine because it was the responsibility of Ukrainian research units. After several years' suspension due to economic problems, it should be resumed in 2002, and jointly developed by the Ukrainian National Technology Center Bureau in Kiev and a number of Ukrainian defense enterprises. In 2005, the new generation of active protection system finally passed the complicated Ukrainian national test and began to test the troops. In August, 2005, Ukraine 1 Independent Guard Armored Brigade obtained the first batch of 17 main battle tanks equipped with "Barrier" active defense system. By 2008, 55 T-64BM main battle tanks of this brigade were equipped with "barrier" active protection system.