The T-55AMD-1 was a further development of the ubiquitous T-55 main battle tank, outfitted with the Drozd hard-kill active protection system (APS) as a countermeasure against anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). Originally, the Drozd APS was developed by the Soviet military in the late 1970s to provide protection for their T-55 and T-62 tanks against the growing threat of portable ATGMs and handheld unguided anti-tank rocket launchers. Around 250 T-55A tanks were subsequently converted to the T-55AD standard, with the Drozd APS installed.

Introduced in Update "Wind of Change", the T-55AMD-1 is essentially a side-grade of the premium T-55AM-1. It has the same upgrades to the firepower, fire control system, engine, and hull armour made on the T-55A to bring it up to the T-55AM-1 standard, but the T-55AMD-1 trades the add-on "brow" composite armour for the Drozd APS, which can effectively intercept incoming ATGMs within a 80° frontal arc. This makes the T-55AMD-1 better equipped to deal with ATGM-equipped IFVs, tank destroyers, and helicopters than the T-55AM-1, though the turret armour cannot reliably resist penetration from contemporary tank guns. The T-55AMD-1 retains the potent 100 mm D-10T2S cannon with access to various ammunition types, including APFSDS, APHE, and ATGMs. Its mobility, while not exceptional, is adequate for its role. The combination of the versatile D-10T2S gun with competent mobility allows the T-55AMD-1 to perform well, even in situations where the Drozd APS is irrelevant.