Chobham Composite Armor:

Although details about this type of armor are highly classified, we know some general details. Chobham armor is made of different kinds of materials, including ceramics, plastics and alloys. The different layers are set at odd angles to each other in a series of baffles. The result makes the rod or shaped charged get break to the different angles, therefore reducing the penetration ability of the round. In the M1A2, there is a layer of depleted uranium encased with steel to increase the protection from armor piercing rounds.

Reactive Armor:

The reactive armor is another way to stop shaped charged warheads. This is a normal steel armor, but it has steel boxes on in that contain explosives, bolted outside of the tank. The boxes are anti-bullet, but when a strong enough round will hit them, they will explode. If the warhead was shaped-charged, the explosion disrupts the jet. The reactive armor is a "cheap version" for the composite armor.

Because standard HEAT rounds were unable to penetrate the reactive armor, a new type of missile warhead called tandem. This warhead consists two shaped-charged warheads, arranged in tandem (hence the name). The first warhead detonates on impact, setting off the reactive armor, which disrupts the jet of the first charge. The second charge detonated a few seconds later, penetrating the steel armor. Because of this warhead, a second generation of reactive armor was invented. This armor consisted of two layers of "explosives boxes". With the new generation of reactive armor, the tandem warhead became ineffective. The new generation of reactive armor also has a good chance of breaking a SABOT rod.

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