Thales is developing the SHARK (System HARd Kill), an active protection system protecting light and heavy armored vehicles, by using pyrotechnical effectors to defeat incoming threats such as RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) and antitank missiles. The SHARK program was launched by the French DGA (Direction Générale pour l’Armement). The program is led by TDA, subsidiary of Thales Group, with the contribution of IBD Deisenroth Engineering, the original developer of this countermeasure system.
The system provides a very light weight alternative solution to passive and reactive armor-plating protection. A combination of radar and optronic sensors detect threats at very short range ensure an effective vehicle protection in urban environment as well as in open field. The pyrotechnical counter-measure is initiated with opto-pyrotechnical device for safe operation. Effective at close range only, the blast created by the pyrotechnical charge reduces dramatically the threat effect, to a level compatible of usual vehicle protection. Destruction of threats at close range from the vehicle also contributes to low risk of collateral effect.
The system covers the vehicle over 360° degrees including higher elevations. The system is designed for very short response rate, protecting against threats launched at very short range (less than 15 m), by focusing riposte energy at their most vulnerable points to significantly reduce collateral effects. This blast effect is initiated by an insensitive munition placed around the vehicle to provide full coverage and overlapping to ensure redundancy and multiple threat engagement capability.
According to Thales, this concept of operation is particularly effective in urban terrain where threats are fired from close range and the risk to non combatant is high. SHARK has been successfully integrated on France’s VAB light armored vehicle. The French administration has validated the SHARK concept through intensive trials.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is developing an advanced infantry sight designated ‘Dynamic Image Gunsight Optic’ or DInGO, comprise of a rifle-scope fitting the standard weapon attachment, enhancing the soldiers’ marksmanship capabilities.
The system will enable soldiers to accurately view targets at varying distances without changing scopes or suffering a decrease in optical resolution. The system will enhance soldiers’ ability to accurately hit targets at a range of between three and 600 meters. DInGO will be developed initially for M-16 and M-4 rifles.
DInGO automatically calculates the range with a low power laser rangefinder, digitally zooms in on it and accounts for environmental conditions such as wind using sensors built into the scope. It then projects the bullet’s point-of-impact calculated from the embedded ballistics computer.
The new sight is based on Lockheed Martin’s ‘One Shot’ Advanced Sighting System, which utilizes similar precision engagement technology to automatically transmit crosswind information to a long-range sniper’s scope and modify the crosshairs to display exactly where the bullet will strike.
“Current scopes are optimized for a single target range, impacting soldiers’ effectiveness and survivability when engaging targets at different distances during a single mission,” said Dan Schultz, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems & Sensors Ship & Aviation Systems business. “DInGO will solve this problem, significantly increasing soldiers’ ability to rapidly reconfigure optics for use from short to long ranges and improving marksmanship capabilities for all soldiers.”
Lockheed Marting is conducting the current development under a nine-month DARPA contract worth about $4 million. in 2008 DARPA awarded Lockheed Martin an 18-month, $9.7 million contract, to integrate One Shot’s new crosswind measurement technology into a prototype spotter scope – a small telescope that is carried by sniper teams and is used to bring far-away objects into close view. During tactical field tests in December 2009, snipers were able to engage targets twice as quickly and increase their probability of a first-round hit by a factor of two using the One Shot technology at distances beyond 1,000 meters.
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has developed a ruggedized, tactical handheld device computing for dismounted Soldiers. The Tactical Digital Assistant (TDA) displays situational awareness, based on ‘blue force tracking’ and other tactical data derived from battle command networks enhancing command and control capabilities to the brigade level and below. The TDA interfaces with both fielded U.S. Army Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2)and emerging Joint Battle Command – Platform systems.
TDA supports on-the-move communication and information sharing with vehicles and other platforms, thus sharing of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance at all command levels. The TDA provides the dismounted Soldier with secure communications capability, while exchanging position and situational awareness with supporting and other friendly forces in a complex operational environment.
The TDA is compatible with current FBCB2 software and provides the flexibility to host the Google Android operating system. Its intuitive user interface supports shared full motion video and sensor command and control. An open architecture provides flexibility for future growth, including new applications and increased memory requirements. Lockheed Martin is developing numerous applications for the TDA to support battlefield challenges. Unlike commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology, the TDA’s ruggedized design can withstand harsh operational environments.
Elbit Systems is introducing a new, tactical manpack software defined radio at Eurosatory, extending its family of SDR radios to vehicle mounted and dismounted applications. The new backpackable software defined Military IP Radio (MIPR) weighs about four kg and is fully developed by Elbit Systems.
Elbit Systems' SDR-7200 Software defined Radio. Photo: Elbit Systems
Earlier in 2010 Elbit Systems introduced the SDR-7200 – an encrypted, frequency-hopping software defined radio designed for operation in tactical land, air and naval platforms. Designed and developed by the company’s Land and C4I-Tadiran division, the new radio offers flexible interoperability with different networks, services, coalition forces and agencies that make their waveforms available for joint operations.
Eliminating potential compromise of data security, the radio integrates an inherent firewall, separating “black” from “red” information, allowing the secure transfer of data across secure networks while maintaining access to other systems. The new radio allows simultaneous, single network voice and data operation using only 25Khz of the VHF bandwidth, allowing maximum data rate of 115.2kbps. Simultaneously the radio can transfer multi-megabyte data rates over broadband links. The new radio enables multiple operators to communicate and transfer data, on one or more networks, simultaneously, allowing for the reduction of radios held within a battle group, potentially saving weight and volumetric space inside vehicles, surface vessels and aircraft.
At Eurosatory Elbit Systems is unveiling the latest member of the family, MiPR. This new tactical manpack radio can transfer data at rates up to 13.3 Mbps, enabling forward deployed commanders, intelligence and target acquisition elements to access wideband information networks, facilitating the transfer of live video, voice and data over IP networks. MIPR has diverse operational capabilities support both LOS and NLOS connectivity and operation during mobility at speeds of up to 300 Km/h. A Voice over IP (VoIP) radio, MIPR provides full-duplex voice communication with active noise reduction, selective calling, priority break-in and the capability to hear four voice groups simultaneously.
MIPR provides connectivity for dozens of members per network. The system supports a variety of configurations, including point-to- point (PtP), point-to-multipoint (PtMP) and mobile ad-hoc networks (MANET). The radio has built-in Electronic Counter-CounterMeasures (ECCM) employing jammer rejection, bit spreading and frequency-hopping. It also supports secure communication through advanced encryption algorithms.
Elbit Systems developed the SDR radios as part of an Israeli MOD program since 2005. Initial systems have been delivered in 2010 and are equipping military formations at tactical levels, as part of the Digital Army Program (DAP).
Rafael is unveiling the new TacMAX family of broadband, wireless networking systems at Eursatory 2010. TacMax utilizes the latest commercial off the shelf (COTS) 4G WiMAX technology, redesigned and packaged for military use, supporting mesh capabilities, advanced security and electronic-defense (ECCM) capabilities. The system is designed for rapid deployment and agility, using mobile station subscribers mounted on military vehicles, portable, fixed or deployable sites.
the TACMAX user radioa base station operating the rapid deployable WiMAX network in the field. Photos: Rafael
The system comprises base stations, relay stations, mobile stations or ship borne units. TacMax can support high data transfer rate of up to 45 Mbps per sector, delivering high quality broadband video, data and voice services on-the-move. The end units are designed for military standards, capable of integration in tactical, armored vehicles.
Rafael is designing the system to be rapidly deployable, supporting division and brigade level communications with broadband data networking, as well as providing broadband connectivity for coastal and border security networks. The system can also be used to enhance current mobile subscriber requiring ultra-high data rates.
The system was displayed earlier this year in India and created significant interest.
The Milicor TETRAPOL based IP mobile network is designed for rapid deployment by military operators, meeting harsh field conditions, easy to deploy, maintain and integrate in vehicles. Photo: EADS DS
At Eurosatory 2010 EADS Defence & Security (DS) is presenting a prototype of its newest Milicor family of mobile, secure high-speed IP radio mobile network based on the TETRAPOL standard.
The Milicor TETRAPOL based IP mobile network is designed for rapid deployment by military operators, meeting harsh field conditions, easy to deploy, maintain and integrate in vehicles. Photo: EADS DS
The new technology implements high-speed data communications over the TETRAPOL standard, supporting the transfer of voice, and high speed data communications in a temporary field of operations. According to EADS, the system infrastructure assets are designed for rapid deployment by military operators, meeting harsh field conditions, easy to deploy, maintain and integrate in vehicles.
TETRAPOL networks are widely deployed with NATO countries – particularly by British, German, French and Spanish forces stationed in Kosovo and Afghanistan. A Projectable Telecommunication Network (PTN) has been in service with French gendarmes in Kabul since the first quarter of 2010 as part of an Afghan police training mission. This temporary radio coverage makes it possible to offer encrypted phone and data services to several thousand subscribers over an area of 5,000 km². The new Milicor networks will benefit from this installed base, enhancing the digitization of existing networks, significantly raising the communication throughput requirements. Since the early 1990s EADS has installed TETRAPOL, TETRA, P25 and high-speed technologies in more than 200 networks in 68 countries.
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully completed flight testing of an airborne satellite communications system, to become the first airborne terminal system to be certified for connection to the Wideband Global Satellite (WGS). The flight test used the communications terminal system installed on a modified business jet aircraft to connect with a WGS via the Ka-band link. The test – which measured terminal performance including high data rates – is the second of three phases required to certify the airborne communications system for WGS operations. The new terminal will facilitate high throughput airborne communications supporting ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) dissemination at all levels. Northrop Grumman is performing the certification under the Multi-Role Tactical Common Data Link (MR-TCDL) Developmental and Operational Test program contract. MR-TCDL enables extremely fast exchange of data via ground, airborne and satellite networks, by dynamically routing IP data between space, aerial and ground communications layers. Northrop Grumman’s teammates on the program include U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.; L-3 Communications South West, Salt Lake City, Utah; Alpha Research & Technology Inc., El Dorado Hills, Calif., and Orion Air Group, Tucson, Ariz.
Panhard and IMI are cooperating in Eurosatory 2010 to show an integrated display of Panhard vehicles equipped with IMI’s Active Protection Systems (APS) and advanced weapon stations. Panhard’s latest armored vehicle, the VBR, a medium armored vehicle, is displayed at IMI stand fitted with vehicle protection system, comprising the IMI Wave 200 Advanced Stabilized Remote Weapon Station, mounting an 0.5″ heavy machine gun and Iron-Fist Active Protection System (APS).
integrating all-weather, real time situational awareness, ‘soft kill’ electro-optical jamming and ‘hard kill’ interceptors, Iron FIst is capable in defeating threats such as anti-tank missiles and RPGs. The VBR comes with high power-to-weight ratio, and high-level protection and large payload-capacity and roof-area to accommodate different mission payloads. VBR can be modeled to carry turrets of various sizes or specific mission payloads.
Panhard also shows the Petit Véhicule Protégé (PVP) light armored vehicle, fitted with IMI’s Bright Arrow – a weapon station integrated with Iron-Fist – based components to perform as an APS. Bright Arrow is developed specifically for light and small armored vehicles. PVP was developed for liaison and protected security tactical missions. The vehicle is in service with the French Army.
RADA Electronic Industries Ltd. will be showing at Eurosatory 2010 a new radar sensor designed specifically for Active Protection Systems (APS). The Sentinel (RPS-10) is the first entry of RADA into the land systems’ field. The development of the radar was accelerated to meet the tight development schedule of the IMI Iron Fist system, destined for the Israeli Namer Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). The new radar was successfuly tested as part of the system-wide demonstration conducted by IMI for potential customers.
Sentinel is a compact and lightweight, yet armored, pulse-Doppler radar that operates in the “S” band, detecting and tracking incoming threats (missiles, rockets, projectiles). The static radar “stares” over a sector of 210 degrees, enabling two identical and interchangeable units to cover a complete sphere around the protected vehicle. This digital radar is easily programmable and configurable, interfacing with its peripherals via standard Ethernet links. According to the company, the new radar technology is applicable to a wide variety of force protection systems and solutions, whether stationary or mobile, for Defense and Homeland Security applications.
The first application of RADA’s radar technology is the Sentinel Radar for Active Protection Systems for AFVs, which was developed in a record time and has already demonstrated excellent performance through rugged, live fire field tests conducted by Israel Military Industries (IMI)”, said Alon. Following extensive evaluation of several radars, IMI has selected Sentinel to be the primary sensor for their Iron Fist second-generation Active Protection System (APS).
Innocon Ltd., a privately held company, has been developing and manufacturing UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) ranging from micro-UAVs weighing a mere 6 kg to 1000 kg full-size UAVs, equipped with the company’s proprietary command and control systems.
Company clients include leading defense companies BAE Systems and Elbit Systems for which the company developed the Hermes 90 design. Innocon’s developed and manufactured UAVs are in service in the U.S., Latin America and Israel as well as in a number of Asian and African countries.
An update on the Merkava based Infantry Fighting Vehicle
“For 38 years we produced only tanks, but in the last two years we have expanded into a family of vehicles, with the development and production of the Namer IFV.” Brigadier general Yaron Livnat, Merkava Tank Program Manager (PM) told Defense Update. “The Mk 4 entered service four years after its development started. The development of the Namer began in 2007, and by mid-2010, a mere three years later, it is under full-rate production, with sufficient number of vehicles supplied, to equip several infantry battalions.” The Namer is based on the basic technology of the Merkava, but is actually a completely new vehicle concept. These differences already became evident from our visit to the production line, where many vehicles of the two types filled the various work stations and final assembly lines, sharing the same manufacturing facilities, previously used exclusively for Merkava Mk 4 production process.
Designed to carry a full infantry squad and a crew of three, Namer not only keeps pace accompanying the tanks in battle, in fact it is faster, more agile, maneuverable and protected, compared to the Merkava Mk 4. Handling the roughest terrain, ranging from the mountainous, rocky Golan Heights and Southern Lebanon, to the sand dunes of the Negev and Sinai desert, Namer also offers a level of protection that exceeds any other vehicle in its class. Namer uses a 1,200 hp powerpack already used in the Merkava. It also retains the high-performance suspension and automotive systems, developed by Ashot Ashkelon for the Merkava, enabling uncompromised mobility in rough terrain. Its internal and external design is modular and versatile, accommodating different mission-kits, as they are being introduced.
The Namer family of vehicles will comprise two sub-groups – fighting vehicles and combat support vehicles. Among the fighting vehicles are the infantry carriers, currently in production, a command vehicle having the same silhouette, but internally configured to work as forward command post, and a weapon carrier, modeled with an overhead unmanned weapon station, carrying guided missiles and a medium caliber automatic 30mm gun or the 120mm CARDOM mortar. The combat support group will include a medical evacuation vehicle, technical support vehicle, recovery vehicle and an engineering support vehicle. Eventually, Namer derivatives will replace many different vehicles, currently in service, including the Puma engineering vehicle, based on the long, old Centurion tank chassis, the Achzarit infantry carriers based on modified T-55s and under-protected M-113s still employed in different combat support roles.
At present, Namer is produced in the infantry fighting vehicle configuration, equipped with a stabilized remotely operated weapon station produced by Rafael advanced defense systems. Multiple display computers are delivered by Nir-Or Systems, providing the crew and passengers full situational awareness, under armor protection. Overpressure filtration and air conditioning system made by Kinetics render life support, in harsh environmental conditions and under chemical or biological attacks. A fire-suppression system supplied by Spectronics is also part of the vehicle’s survivability package. The forward located power- pack, characteristic of the Merkava, adds to the crew protection in the frontal arc. All- around, advanced, modular hybrid armor, provides high level protection, against all types of threats. “The weight saved by eliminating the turret was ‘reinvested’ in beefing up the armor” Livnat explained, “this has resulted, with Namer having better protected from belly charges and IEDs, than any other armored vehicle”. This becomes an important life-saving asset, in case the vehicle hits roadside or under belly IED. The armor suite uses a modular format, which is already designed to accommodate an active protection system (APS), planned to be installed in the future. The ‘Iron Fist’, currently under development at IMI, is being considered for the Namer. Providing a stand-off interception of incoming projectiles and missiles, Iron Fist will offer a hemispherical protection from threats fired from close-range and extended range alike.
An update on the Merkava based Infantry Fighting Vehicle
At present all the Namer AFVs are produced for the IDF, sharing the production capacity created for the Merkava tanks. Since the IDF Ground Forces Command would like to field more vehicles than the plant can currently produce, in an effort to quickly phase-out obsolete APCs, the IMOD is facing a tough choice – whether to minimize or even sacrifice the production of the Merkava tanks, to rush more Namer vehicles into the field, or to turn to the U.S. and spend part of the Foreign Military Funding (FMF) military assistance Washington is allocating to Israel, for the acquisition of defense products made in the U.S.A. Israel is hopeful that if the Namer will be assembled in the U.S., and be shipped to Israel for completion, with locally made systems, the IDF will be able to accelerate the fielding process of more vehicles to active units.
“This is a tough decision we’ll have to consider very seriously” Brigadier general Yaron Livnat, Merkava Tank Program Manager (PM) told Defense Update. “While economically it is an attractive proposition, we must assure that industries supporting the program will not be forced out of business, by such a move. We also must be prudent in retaining our indigenous armored vehicle production base. Since we consider the tank program being a more challenging and a complex undertaking, we decided to retain the full set of tank development, engineering and production capabilities well into the future.” Livnat added. Thus, by eventually producing the Namer overseas Israel will be able to retain the local currency budget, to finance the Merkava production line at its present pace, “This process will also prevent aging of its tank fleet, as we will continue to replace earlier generation Merkava tanks with brand new Merkava Mk4, in parallel to fielding Namer vehicles in an accelerated delivery, as requested by the IDF.”
According to General Livnat, requests for proposal were recently released to three US companies – General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), BAE Systems and Textron Defense. “They are all excited about the program and we await a final decision soon,” said Livnat. Producing Namer AFVs in the U.S. could also become an export opportunity, “The Namer addresses many of the requirements stated by the U.S. Army for its Ground Combat Vehicle, however, we are interested in buying vehicles, and are not selling, or promoting them abroad” said Livnat. However, all three U.S. companies approached with whom Israel is discussing co-production of the Namer are excited to learn more and all were keen to have the potential to offer elements or derivatives of the vehicles addressing the U.S. army plans.
Conceived in a Virtual World
The vast experience gained with the Merkava tank has helped the program office to turn the Namer, from a design concept into a fully operational combat vehicle, in surprisingly short lead-time, less than three years. Electronic design and modeling was a major element in the success of the program; the vehicles designers have used state-of-the-art simulation tools to improve, test and simulate the ergonomic aspects of the vehicle, its subsystems and components, and the effect they might have on the occupants and operating procedures, maintenance and support. For example, simulations assessing extended operations, in the fully loaded vehicle, could assess how seats should be spaced for optimal comfort and safety, simulating how fully loaded soldiers move around in the vehicle, access equipment and conduct their tasks, while the vehicle is moving. In the past, such assessments required extensive and lengthy experimentation with ‘hand made’ technology demonstrators and prototypes, that preceded the final design.
These vehicles were extensively tested in the field, but after all these efforts they seldom represented a compromise, rather than best solution. Testing and improving the Namer in the virtual world enabled the designers to perform more extensive and complete simulations, particularly as to the ergonomic design of the vehicle and its systems. Different occupants could be simulated, male and females, tall or short, big and small models could all be ’stuffed’ into the virtual prototype and measure the comfort, performance, flexibility and other important ergonomic qualities of the vehicle. Such simulations contributed to improve and accelerate this process, saving immense costs of remodeling, retooling and reproducing the actual vehicles. Another aspect of the design was the definition of standardized assemblies and attachments, enabling the introduction and insertion of future elements, along the operating methods of the ‘telescopic Design’. This practice, developed during the early days of the Merkava tank, enables the engineers and designers, to schedule and insert an element in the future, thus enabling the accelerated deliveries of the initial production series completion, although they may still be lacking some non-critical elements. For example, the first production batches of the Namer were produced without air conditioning. These systems were inserted few months later, after the vehicles were already deployed in the field.
Merkava 4 with its Trophy Active Protection System to Become the Hub of Israel’s Pavilion at Eurosatory 2010
This year the Merkava tank is celebrating its 40th years anniversary. For four decades the Merkava program remained on track, keeping pace major revolutions in technology, strategy, economy and political. “It was not an easy task” Brigadier general Yaron Livnat, Merkava Tank Program Manager (PM) told Defense Update. In 2006 the program reached its lowest point, awaiting the general staff decision to pull the plug on the Merkava program and, in fact, the entire armored corps. 12 months later the program was back on track, as the IDF realized its erroneous judgment, recovering from the second Lebanon War, where the Israelis suffered significant hits but also proved their prowess, land maneuver reestablished its validity and necessity.
With a fully funded long-term recovery plan to evolve the tank into a ‘family of vehicles, supported at the highest levels of GHQ and MOD,’ the IDF fully embraced the development and fielding in the introduction of a new armored vehicle, more than 40 years after deploying of the first M-113 APC, the Namer armored infantry vehicle emerged as a totally new concept.
“The Merkava program represents a highly sophisticated, heavy industrial complex which has only few counterparts worldwide. The program, established by General Israel Tal 40 years ago, remains virtually unchanged” said Livnat, “we still have the same departments and quite a few of our technical experts are working here, after more than 30 years. The same organizational formation is still valid, although we implemented state of the art computing tools and machinery. That stability helped retain the engineering, operational, combat experience and technical expertise, gained through the program’s evolution” Livnat added.
From a program focused on the automotive, protected platform of the 1970s the Merkava Program Management office (PM) evolved and expanded into new fields of vehicle electronics, software design, electro-optics and advanced armor technology, which are all part of the Merkava Mk4 and Namer IFV designs.
“Unlike its counterparts worldwide, the Merkava PM office represents a special breed – a military unit under IDF command and a branch of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) which is running a ‘business’, managing an operation in the methods used in the commercial world. This approach enables us to address our customers as piers, while ‘speaking the same language’ with our suppliers” explained Livnat.
Merkava 4 – The Tank of the 2000s
The development of the current generation Merkava Mk4 began in 1999 and represented a major step toward a modular, ‘open platform’. This unique approach enabled us to transform the tank from an armored vehicle, designed to fight other tanks, into a versatile platform optimized for a changing battlefield – from low-intensity asymmetric warfare to high intensity counter-armor operations. “In 1999 our charter was to design a tank that will survive changes and evolve with the time. We did not them call it ‘Asymmetric Warfare’. Back then we realized we will have to outmatch future threats with advanced protection, or active protection systems (APS), which did not exist at the time. But these were already included in the requirements and conceptual design of the tank, as we defined the interfaces of the armor, to accommodate future growth, as such technology would become available. Today, Merkava Mk4 tanks are rolling out of the assembly line, equipped with the latest Trophy Active Protection System, integrated as a standard element of the protection suite.”
Similarly, it was clear that information technology will develop at a rapid pace and we wouldn’t like to be left behind, so we packed enough electrical and computer power, by designing powerful computers that use a scalable, distributed computing architecture, sharing common, interconnected protocols and networks on board, providing the tank’s systems flexible means to perform multiple tasks in an efficient, redundant and reliable manner.
In fact, rather than having a specific processor committed to individual tasks, the many processors employed on the Merkava Mk4, provide ‘services’ to applications, each service is prioritized by parameters like importance, urgency and process-duration. These processors can be located in different areas of the tank and are interconnected into ‘rings’, over multiple network paths, providing a resilient and survivable infrastructure. This approach also offers exponential growth, as specific elements are not restricted by memory, computing power or other operating parameters. The original network developed for the Merkava, preceded the Digital Army Program (DAP) known as Zayad, which was introduced in later versions of the tank and is gradually being applied to the current fleet.
Design versatility is also characteristic in other areas, including weapon systems, armor protection and combat support tool attachments, enabling the user to rapidly and flexibly configure the tank with mission-specific kits, designed for different applications.
For example, an electrically controlled coax weapon-attachment is mounted on top of the main gun barrel, accommodating an automatic grenade launcher (AGL) or 0.5” heavy machinegun (HMG). This weapon enables the gunner to employ an alternative kinetic effect weapon, in situations that do not require firing the 120mm main gun. “To operate the AGL or 0.5” HMG the gunner uses the same firing and aiming procedures through the same sight, operating the tank’s ballistic computer, which is informed on the specific weapon’s ballistic characteristics” Livnat explains. The weapon is automatically aligned with the gun and connected to the gunner’s optics and fire control, through a common interface, embedded in the tank. This interface indicates the type of weapon and ammunition being used, enabling the ballistic computer to instantly lay the weapon in the correct aiming solution. “This versatility was the key in the transformation of the Merkava mk4 in recent years, from a main battle tank, into a versatile warfighting platform, capable of effectively engaging soft and urban targets, in less-intensive warfare, without sacrificing its operational capabilities in high intensity combat”, General Livnat concluded.
In the past, tanks normally fought and survived within rigid formations. Today, they can operate in looser ‘packs’, seamlessly sharing targets, coordinating activities amongst themselves and cooperating with other elements, over the DAP C4I network. After 10 years and numerous improvements in software, we still operate the same displays and user interface displays, although the version currently in service, has improved dramatically in the level of details and situational presence it provides to the user. We expect to replace these only when we shall implement the next phase-upgrade of the battle management network.”
The multiple networks embedded in the tank are also enabling rapid introduction of new electronic equipment, enabling the Merkava Mk 4 to remain up-to-date, with the highest standards. “Previous generations of tanks are not as easily upgraded, and their modernization process is extensive and laborious, and, therefore difficult to justify in times of budget cuts.” Applying the unique Merkava Program Office versatile process, is one of the reasons for Livnat’s confidence about the future of the Merkava production. “The IDF and MOD are supporting continued production of Merkava and Namer vehicles, at least throughout the next decade. This continuous production of Merkava Mk4 will enable the IDF to gradually phase out older tanks, that are more difficult to maintain and difficult to upgrade” said Livnat.
Merkava Mk4 tanks rolling out of the production line are equipped with the Trophy APS as a standard feature. The Trophy system has also been evaluated by a number of international armies, for use on various types of armored fighting vehicles. Photo: Rafael
Based on its latest combat experiences, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is moving forward with the development and fielding of active protection systems (APS) for tanks and armored infantry fighting vehicles (AIFV). Both systems are utilizing destroying threats without ever having to initiate their warheads, at ranges that significantly reduce risk to dismounted infantry or collateral damage. The fact that the IDF and the Defense Research & development Directorate (DRDD) at the Ministry of Defense decided to support two parallel developments of two different APS technologies indicates the high priority Israel is providing to active defense systems – for tanks and armored vehicles – with the Trophy from Rafael Advanced defense Systems and Iron Fist from IMI; in air and missile defenses systems – such as Rafael’s Iron Dome and David Sling and IAI’s Arrow, and at sea, with the IAI Barak 8 missile system.
Merkava Mk4 tanks rolling out of the production line are equipped with the Trophy APS as a standard feature. The Trophy system has also been evaluated by a number of international armies, for use on various types of armored fighting vehicles. Photo: Rafael
The first is the Trophy, (also known as Aspro A), developed by Rafael. After extensive technical qualification and operational testing, the Trophy system was approved for production and became an integral part of the Merkava 4, it is now included in every tank rolling off the production line, making the Israeli tank the first Armored Fighting Vehicle in the world to field an operational APS as standard equipment. Rafael’s Trophy employs a network of four radar sensors covering a 360 hemisphere around the protected tank. The radar is integrated with the platform’s battle management system through the system’s processor, providing instantaneous detection of a threat immediately when firing a missile or projectile at the tank. Laser warning could precede the radar detection, if the tank is equipped with a Laser Detection System (LDS).
However, while LDS commonly provide a warning as to the estimated quadrant of the threat, the Trophy radar provides an accurate solution enabling the crew to engage the firing source even when the they have launched missile is in the air, effectively suppressing the guidance or eliminating the threat altogether. Furthermore, using network centric connectivity, the location of the target can be transferred to other weapon systems for suppression, while the tank takes evasive actions. Only when the threat closes in to a certain distance from the tank, the ‘hard kill’ element of the Trophy kicks in.
A close up view showing details of the Trophy APS components, including one of the the radar sensor, the hard-kill countermeasure mounted on its pointer pedestal, and blast deflector protecting personnel and equipment that could be exposed to the automatic system's blast effect. The deflector is necessary since the Trophy is initiated automatically upon the approach of an imminent threat. Photo: Israel MOD..
The kill mechanism used by the Trophy utilizes Multiple Explosively Formed Projectiles (MEFP). Mounted on an aimable pedestal, this module is pointed at the direction of the incoming threat and explodes, sending an ultra-fast sheath of melted fragments destroying the threat. This hard-kill countermeasure is effective against all types of Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM), Anti-Tank Rockets or High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) projectiles. The APS is considered the only effective countermeasure against warheads containing tandem warheads, designed to penetrate reactive armor systems. Relying on a highly directional explosive for both propulsion and kill mechanism, the Trophy APS delivers response time and kill probability significantly higher than other systems. The Trophy system can simultaneously engage multiple threats arriving from different directions and is effective on stationary or moving platforms.
Rafael is already developing follow-on versions for the Trophy. Future models will be able to engage a wider target set, including kinetic threats. Another evolution already in the pipeline is known as ‘Trophy 2’ – a more compact and lighter system, applicable to lighter vehicles including armored infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. Trophy 2 follows the same principles of the the current system, optimized with the experience and know how gathered through the development of the first generation. Rafael has already conducted several successful firing tests with the system.
Like the Merkava tanks rolling out of the assembly line fitted with APS, Israel’s Namer AIFV will soon be delivered with a different APS – the Iron Fist, developed by Israel Military Industries (IMI). Unlike the main battle tank, expected to operate in independent small units or in support of other elements, AIFVs like the Namer will operate closely with dismounted infantry, particularly in urban combat. Therefore, its APS has to address different safety requirements for this type of operation. The Iron-Fist has completed development and is undergoing integration with the vehicle and its systems and is scheduled to enter production soon. IMI has recently completed a series of demonstrations of the Iron-Fist for Israeli and foreign officials, as part of trials conducted for the Namer program. Realizing the growing demand for such capabilities, IMI embarked on cooperative development with leading defense manufacturers, launching marketing efforts to introduce the system to a number of new procurement and upgrading programs.
Unlike the Merkava which absorbs the explosion of the MEFP brick on the side of the turret, the Iron Fist uses a mortar like interceptor tossing a projectile to engage the threat at a predetermined distance. This delivery method is considered faster and more responsive, compared to rocket propelled projectiles, optimized for intercepting targets farther down range. Like the Merkava tank the Namer will be equipped with two launchers mounted on each side of the vehicle. However, Iron Fist covers the protected hemisphere with two static sensors, rather than four flat panels used on the Merkava. IMI has designed the Iron Fist to operate a multi-layer protective system, comprising of situational awareness and early warning provided by radar and electro-optical sensors, soft kill elements utilizing an infrared jammer and hard kill.
IMI Iron Fist has been in development for several years. The system has begun integration on the Namer AIFV. Iron Fist and its components also being evaluated by interational customers and system integrators, considering employing the system's components as part of their own solutions. Photo: IMI
Iron Fist’s hard kill elements comprise of two twin-tube rotateable launchers employing fin-stabilized cylindrical shaped interceptors, built of a casing made of composite material filled with explosive charge. Shaping the blast’s shock wave provides an effective kill mechanism crushing ‘soft’ threats such as shaped charges or deflecting and destabilizing long-rod kinetic energy threats, significantly reducing their lethality and penetrating efficiency. The projectile is fully consumed by the blast leaving no hazardous fragments. Furthermore, the wavefront of the shock wave dissipates rapidly beyond the protected area, therefore, eliminating potential risk to nearby troops or non combatants.
An interceptor of the IMI Iron Fist system displayed along with a surrogate RPG used for testing. Photo: Defense-Update
Like the Trophy, Iron-Fist provides situational awareness and integration with battle management and sensors and effector systems, and can handle multiple targets simultaneously, by employing the two launchers, in addition to soft kill countermeasures.
Iron-Fist is part of IMI’s comprehensive, multi-layered survivability concept, ranging from signature reduction, situational awareness and counter-strike, soft and hard kill countermeasures to reactive and passive protection. Iron-Fist fulfils a number of these measures, comprising an advanced, all-weather sensor suite enabling target detection, classification and tracking by radar and infra-red cameras. The Sentinel radar was developed and optimized for the system by Rada Electronic Industries. The passive, electro-optical sensor array, produced by Elisra, operates in parallel to the radar identifying potential threats at combat ranges.
While ‘hard kill’ systems are being developed as part of Active Protection Systems (APS) countering threats of RPGs and anti-tank missiles, ‘soft kill’ countermeasures are also being considered, primarily against 2nd generation anti-tank missiles, where electro-optical (EO) jamming systems can be employed to defeat guided missiles, diverting them from their intended target. Certain types of anti-tank missile targets could be defeated by the system’s ‘soft kill’ two new VIRCM (Vehicle IR Countermeasure) systems, utilizing an advanced, solid-state, directional laser emitter developed by Ariel Photonics or the fiber-laser solutions developed by Elbit Systems for the MUSIC family of EO jammers. Both systems are displayed at the Israeli pavilion at the Eurosatory 2010 exhibition.
Operating as part of a comprehensive multi-layered protection system, such systems operate contniuously or automatically enter the active-defense mode when detected targets are attributed as threatening the protected platform. When a specific threat is identified the system will first attempt to engaged second generation anti-tank missiles, by soft-kill, employing infra-red light sources to disrupt the command line, forcing the missile to divert from its course and miss its target.
Elbit Systems offers its EoShield as a stand-alone system, that operates continuously, covering 360 degrees simultaneously (no moving parts are needed). The system operates automatically, without the need for any intervention of the platform’s crew. The EO Shield maintains a low profile and low signature, does not require connectivity to Missile Warning Systems (MWS) as it interfaces with the vehicle’s existing threat warning systems. The system contributes to increase the vehicle’s survivability by engaging certain targets at long range, thus eliminating the need for expendable hard-kill interceptors, which are usually available in short supply.
Elbit Systems’ EoShield is a vehicular derivative of the Company’s airborne IR Countermeasure line of products, consisting of the MUSIC system, a multi-spectral infrared countermeasure that protects military aircraft and helicopters from shoulder-launched missiles. Elbit Systems has also developed the C-MUSIC system – a commercial derivative of the military MUSIC system, which was selected for use by Israel’s national carriers.
Another mode of protection is evading detection and deception. At the Eurosatory 2010 exhibition IMI and Eltics are announcing the integration of Eltics’ Active Stealth and reactive technologies and the hybrid armor solutions from IMI, to introduce an ‘Invisible Reactive Armor Protection’ (IRAP). According to Rami Sokolower, IMI Marketing & Business Development manager for IMI’s Slavin division, IRAP modules will be developed, produced and marketed by IMI and Eltics, addressing the world market of medium and heavy armored combat vehicles, including main battle tanks, armored infantry carriers and Mine Protected Vehicles (MRAP, MPV). The IRAP will be provided as a medium weight solution, to be employed as part of the vehicle’s multi-layered survivability system.
Does Israel Need Two Active Protection Systems?
Is there a real justification for the IDF to field two different active protection systems in parallel? “The Rafael Trophy design, is more mature and is already operational, equipping tanks rolling out of our production line. The integration and maturation of this system took almost four years,” Brigadier general Yaron Livnat, Merkava Tank Program Manager (PM) told Defense Update, “we anticipate a similar process for Iron Fist. The two systems provide different defensive measures and at present, the latter system is in ‘pre integration’ phase, completing development and then proceeding to integration on the vehicle.” For actual fielding the system will require further formalities, IMI and Rafael are still competing on the supply of the Namer APS.
IMI is offering a multi-layered system, that consists of several layers of defense, from the detection and location of threats, by electro-optical and radar sensors, through soft-kill countermeasures against guided missiles, to the use of ‘hard kill’ interceptors, against the incoming threats. Rafael plans to offer a scaled- down version of the Trophy known as ‘Trophy Light’, designed to match the specific requirements of the Namer. Can Israel support two parallel development programs? Successful exporting of these systems will determine the validity of these ambitious thrusts. The Israeli MOD has realized the important role of exporting these technologies, and is actively assisting the two industries in exporting their APS systems, at the 2010 Eurosatory show and other international events.
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