.jpg)
Autor fotografie: Rafael, Public domain|Popisek: Trophy HV on Merkava 4
Two Israeli defence companies have upgraded their active protection systems (APS) installed on tanks and APC's, and claim that this upgrade solves the problem encountered first in Ukraine and then in Israel – attack by drones dropping warheads of anti-tank rockets that hit the upper "soft" section of the tank.
The upgraded active protection systems (APS ) Trophy, made by Israeli company Rafael, and the Iron Fist, made by Elbit systems, have demonstrated their capability to protect tanks from horizontal launched weapon systems and now also from vertical attacks – warheads dropped by drones. "The initial capability has been proven but work continues to increase it," a defence source said. The new threat became very serious in the Ukraine war and in the ongoing war between Israel and the two Iranian proxies in Gaza and Lebanon.
Merkava 4 tanks with a "Cope Cage"
To deal with the threat the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have equipped the Merkava 4 tanks with a "Cope Cage" a metal net protecting the upper part of the tank. This tank is protected by the Trophy APS made by Rafael but it works against anti-tank weapons launched horizontally. The U.S. is using the Iron Fist made by Elbit systems to protect its Bradley and recently decided to use this combat proven system to protect the M2A4EI the last version of the Bradley. The Iron Fist was selected to protect the Israeli made Eitan eight wheeled armored fighting vehicle (AFV).
The upgrade will detect overhead threats and operate the active means that explodes the warhead before it reaches the armored platform. The Israeli developed Trophy active protection systems (APS) is now in big demand in some European counties. Many potential customers are interested in the new "Silent Mode" feature. Based on Lessons from the war in Ukraine, The Israeli companies have been upgrading their APS continuously. Israeli company Rafael has added a silent mode to its bestselling Trophy active protection systems (APS) for tanks and armored combat vehicles.
APS systems can be upgraded with the Silent Mode Capability
By using the four passive Electro-Optic (EO) Sensors that are incorporated inside Trophy's radar antennas, the Silent Mode can be activated. The Elta Systems EO Sensor, sometimes known as "Othello," is a simple-to-install addition to the present Trophy Radar Antennas arrangement. Both freshly created and already deployed Trophy APS systems can simply be upgraded with the Silent Mode Capability thanks to the easy integration of the EO Sensor.
The EO sensor enables the armored vehicles crews to operate the radar only before the threat is detected so that the emissions of the radars do not help the enemy to detect the tank or armored vehicles from long ranges. The Iron Fist employs radio frequency (RF) radar scanning in conjunction with a variety of integrated detecting techniques, such as E/O thermal cameras. Artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible for the detection to be achieved in microseconds, followed by the selection of the most efficient method of interception.
A comparable tactic is employed against tank rounds
A comparable tactic is employed against tank rounds, specifically the most deadly type known as the kinetic-energy (KE) round. This type of round fires a long-rod penetrator at nearly hypervelocity, made of heavy alloys like tungsten or depleted uranium, and is made to penetrate powerful anti-personal spheres as well as any tank. The Iron Fist interceptor considerably reduces the nominal penetration of the KE penetrator to a level that can be absorbed by generating an angle of attack.
The upgrade of the two Israeli developed APS is part of an across the board effort to upgrade Israeli defence system to new threats, most of them of Iranian origin. These weapons have been supplied mainly to the Hezbollah in Lebanon but on a smaller scale also to the Hamas in Gaza.
By ARIE EGOZI