The US Army has asked American defense firm General Dynamics to purchase crucial components for the Trophy active protection system to be fitted into the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank.
The active protection system will help shield the armored vehicles from anti-tank guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and similar threats.
Developed by Rafael and Elta Group, the Trophy system uses a 360-degree radar, processor, and onboard computer to locate and track incoming threats.
It can also launch countermeasures to deflect impacting munitions away from the armored vehicle with a shotgun-like blast.
The system’s interceptor uses small shaped charges attached to a gimbal that fires at a point in space to intercept incoming rounds.
The total value of the order is $280.1 million according to the US Department of Defense.
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Rafael said that the Trophy active protection system rapidly classifies and engages all known chemical energy threats, recoilless rifles, rockets, high-explosive anti-tank rounds, and rocket-propelled grenades.
It reportedly increases the lethality of combat forces by neutralizing enemy anti-tank teams.
The system can also locate fire sources, allowing friendly forces to return fire effectively.
“Today’s armed forces are confronting increasingly sophisticated anti-tank weapons,” Rafael states on its website. “To counter these threats, vehicles need active protection measures that will ensure the survivability of the crew and vehicle.”
Apart from Abrams tanks, the Trophy system has been used on Israeli Merkava tanks to locate and cue weapons to the positions of enemy shooters.
It was also selected by the German Army for its Leopard 2 main battle tank and the British Army for its Challenger 3 tank.
