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Israel's MOD (IMOD) is pursuing two parallel
Active Protection Systems (APS)
to satisfy the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) heavy and light armor
protection requirements. Both systems, based on different concepts of
operation, are funded by the IMOD are scheduled to mature for initial
operation within 18 months will be able to provide full protection
from advanced RPG and ATGW
attacks, including those with tandem warheads. Israel's investments in
the two programs totaled well over $120 millions.
RAFAEL Wins with
Trophy
Trophy Active Defense System (ADS) was developed in
Israel, under domestic and international industrial collaboration.
RAFAEL, the prime developer of the system is teamed with IAI/Elta to
providing the target acquisition radar. As the system matured through
hundreds of tests firings, a General Dynamics (GD) joined the program,
lead the system's marketing activities in North America. Further
cooperation with other countries is also likely to mature as there is
tremendous interest in the system, which is the first western system
to mature, offering effective protection from conventional and
advanced (tandem) shaped charges.
In 2005 GD offered the system to protect US armor in Iraq, among them
M-1A2 tanks and Strykers APCs. The system has matured through hundreds
of live test with the Israel Defense Forces and demonstrated effective
neutralization of anti-tank rockets and guided missiles, demonstrating
high safety levels, insignificant residual penetration and minimal
collateral damage. The system entered full scale engineering phase
launched in March 2005 and is scheduled to be ready for service entry
with IDF Merkava Mk 4 tanks by 2007. On March 30, 2006 General
Dynamics announced the successful completion of a firing test,
conducted at the request of the Office of the Secretary of Defense's
Office of Force Transformation (OFT), to validate the Israeli Army's
tests that demonstrated Trophy's ability to detect, track and destroy
incoming rocket propelled grenades (RPG) at safe distances from the
host vehicle. Trophy was selected in 2005 to be active protection
system to be used by the Full-Spectrum Effects Platform (FSEP), a
vehicle mounting a range of lethal and non-lethal technologies. The
Trophy system is designed to provide effective protection for the FSEP
Stryker, when negotiating complex situations with lethal or non lethal
means. By creating a hemispheric protected zone around the vehicle,
the crew can develop a full situational picture of potential threats
and engage relevant threats with non lethal or lethal force. Incoming
threats which cannot be engaged by other means, such as RPGs and
missiles, will be effectively intercepted and defeated by the Trophy's
interceptors. If procurement is funded, initial Trophy systems could
be delivered to Iraq this year. In total, the US Army and USMC have
requirements for a minimum of 14 FSEP prototype vehicles.
In Eurosatory 2006 IMI is unveiling its new Active
Defense System (ADS) called - Iron Fist. Until recently, the
development of Iron Fist was shrouded in secrecy, as it was developed
in parallel to a different Israeli developed ADS system - RAFAEL's
Trophy, which entered full scale development in 2005. However, due to
rapid development pace and successful testing, IMI expects to deliver
the systems for IDF testing and qualifications by mid 2007. Unlike
competing systems, IMI's Iron Fist can be installed on light vehicles,
including trucks and even Humvees, offering effective protection from
RPGs. IMI conducted extensive testing against a full spectrum of
threats, engaging various types of threats from stationary and moving
armored personnel carriers. The system already demonstrated effective
protection of light vehicles and heavy armored vehicles, from small
rocket propelled grenades, anti-tank missiles and tank rounds equipped
with shaped charge warheads as well as advanced kinetic threats (armor
piercing tank rounds).
One of the main advantages of the Iron Fist is its integration into
routine operations. Its sensor is providing essential input to
situational awareness systems, based on ground radar surveillance,
moving target detection, classification and tracking and motion
detection. Furthermore, by loading other types of projectiles, such
ass non lethal, anti-personnel, smoke or illumination, the system can
be used in support of routine operation.
Iron Fist is supported by Israel's MOD
Directorate for Defense Research & Development (DDR&D). The
program is designed to protect medium and light vehicles, but based on
its performance, has the potential to be used for the protection of
fixed positions or heavy armor. In future configurations, the system
has a growth potential to protect sensitive elements of fixed
installations or patrol boats, protecting from RPG attacks, frequently
encountered in counter insurgency operations.
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