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Modern Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV), such as the
M-1A2, Challenger II, T-80 Leopard II and Merkava Mk4 are
all demonstrating superb armor protection based on advanced armor
concepts. However, the
proliferation of new generations of Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)
and the wide use of hand held anti-tank rifle grenades (such as
RPG) pose a serious threat to even the heaviest protected
vehicles, as attacks are carried out at close range and from all
directions.
Protection all around by passive armor is becoming too
heavy for even the heaviest tanks, and even these cannot stop all
threats in all directions. Therefore, a modern armor is a suite of
protection means, comprising of relatively thin shell of ballistic
steel and composite armor, (also
known as hybrid armor) which can be designed to provide optimal
protection from specific threats. Such
armor can accommodate
steel, various combinations and matrixes of composite materials,
soft and elastic heat absorbing materials, kinetic energy (KE)
absorbing materials such as ceramics, or depleted uranium and
energetic materials (various explosives) that
form reactive armor elements. A typical utilization
of compound armor, designed to counter specific threats was
designed for the
British Challenger II and the latest upgrades of
the German Leopard
2, as
well as the Merkava Mk
2 Type C (shown above). The later
 uses augmented armor to counter roadside bombs
and mines, anti-tank missiles and RPGs. This armor was added on
the standard Merkava Mk3 and was later integrated into
the Mk-3
Baz version of the tank (pictured left).
Future
applications of lightweight
hybrid armor can
also adequate protection from
small caliber ammunition, as well as Chemical Energy (CE - HEAT) threats, but are not
providing full protection against KE threats. Future Combat
Systems (FCS), as well as upgrades for existing platforms, will rely on
a combination of passive and active protection, as well as
detection avoidance and stealth. Full implementation of today's
Defensive Aids Suites is expected to increase the platform's
survivability in up to a factor of two. The addition of advanced
ceramics, as well as composite-based lightweight armor, that
already provides effective protection against small arms up to
14.5mm, is expected to defeat medium caliber guns ammunition (such
as 35mm HE/AP (High Explosive / Anti-Tank) cannon projectiles) by 2006. Providing lightweight
and effective protection against KE threats is yet to be proven,
yet the use of advanced composite armor and new technologies
currently being explored, is expected to yield a solution by 2015.
Next.
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