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The next step in the US Army Defensive
Aid Technology (DAS) is the Army Active Protection System (IAAPS).
This is an integrated FCS system uses integrated soft and
hard-kill measures, passive (EO) and active (radar) sensors, soft
kill countermeasures (IR jammers and decoys) and hard kill
active protection system devices.
The system is designed to protect an armored
vehicle from direct fire and top attack threats with growth
potential for Kinetic Energy (KE) threat defeat.
IAAPS is programmed to intercept a
threat at a long range, by detecting the launch signature of a
missile or gun firing of a tank. After detection, the system
attempts to disrupt the missile's guidance by IR countermeasures,
but if such attempts fail, the hard-kill module is erected,
detects the incoming target, and traverse to point the
countermeasure rockets at the incoming target. A projectile is
launched at the direction of the incoming threat, to intercept and
destroy it at a distance of 30 meters from the protected vehicle.
 In February 2003, the U.S. Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments
Command (TACOM) demonstrated the defeat of three new categories of
anti-tank threats by such a new Integrated defensive system
developed by United Defense Industries. Unlike existing
countermeasures, threats were defeated by "soft kill" electronic
countermeasures and "hard kill" active protection
counter-munitions. The System classifies the inbound threat and
assigns the right countermeasure to defeat it. The suite includes
two types of passive sensors, electronic warfare countermeasures
and an active protection system composed of launcher, radar and a
deployed countermeasure. The system demonstrated both "point
protection" of the attacked vehicle as well as "area protection"
of a limited surrounding area. The suite incorporates an EW system
delivered by BAE Systems and an active protection system developed
by Northrop Grumman Space Technology, linking to United Defense's
platform survivability processor. A derivative of IAAPS designated
CICM, utilizing
nun-bursting electrically powered active countermeasures was
developed by United Defense in 2004, as a near-term countermeasure
against RPG threats encountered in Iraq.
IAAPS can handle multiple, simultaneous threats and
has already defeated six categories of threats over the past year,
puts the system right on track for FCS Block 1. In September 2003,
TACOM began a new series of tests that included IAAPS testing on a
combat vehicle defeating live threats while traveling at 20 mph.
These tests are expected to continue through 2005. Future growth
of the IAAPS system includes incorporation of the objective active
protection counter-munitions for hardened threats and specifically
large caliber long rod penetrators.
The Integrated Army Active Protective
System (IAAPS) is
The Command is developing the following two APS programs for
integration into the current force in order to increase
survivability of our warfighters. |
