APS Trophy and Iron Fist

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Rafael has delivered the final Trophy active protection system (APS) to the four Armored brigade combat teams US Army. The company began delivering the systems to the service in September 2019 and its US partner, Leonardo DRS, announced final delivery on 6 January.

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Received the Leonardo DRS award for 100% on-time delivery performance. As part of the Trophy active protection system, nearly 400 radar systems will be integrated into the US Army’s Abrams tanks

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-receives-final-trophy-aps
https://www.iai.co.il/iai-completes-windguard-radar-deliveries-to-us-military

еach Armored brigade combat team includes 87 Abrams, 4*87=348 tanks


In September 2017, the Army completed Phase I testing. Phase I testing also included 10 Marine Corps Abrams tests with moving vehicle and inert threats.
In September 2019, the Army completed Phase II testing, which included:
  • Operational testing at Fort Bliss, Texas, from November 28 through December 14, 2018. An armored platoon outfitted with Trophy APS-equipped M1A2 SEPv2 tanks successfully conducted maneuver and gunnery test events. The test unit completed Trophy APS familiarization training, a force-on-force maneuver event against an opposing force, and tank qualification gunnery. The final test event consisted of four effectiveness shots utilizing inert RPG threats to assess how well Trophy APS retained system calibration following maneuver and gunnery.
  • The Army and Marine Corps completed 62 live fire tests including some operationally stressing conditions (e.g., background clutter, rain, concrete walls) to adequately evaluate the APS performance. Live fire testing included inert unguided threats fired against either a fully functional Abrams SEPv2 or Marine M1A1 tanks equipped with Trophy, and live rocket and missile threats fired against a ballistic hull and turret tank shell powered by a generator.
  • The Army completed one live fire test against a fully functional Abrams SEPv2 tank to assess a potential for cascading, system-level damage effects post intercept. -The Army conducted Trophy APS Phase II testing at Redstone Test Center, Aberdeen Test Center, Yuma Test Center, and Fort Bliss in accordance with DOT&E-approved test plans.
The Army is planning a Phase III test series to examine Trophy APS as installed on Abrams SEPv3 vehicles.
Click to expand...

https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2019/army/2019aps.pdf?ver=2020-01-30-115323-267
 
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Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) is to install the Israeli TROPHY protection system in German LEOPARD 2 main battle tanks. The contract was signed with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and the State of Israel on 22.02.2021.

The system is capable of destroying incoming projectiles before they hit a tank. Together with the Israeli manufacturer Rafael, KMW has adapted the TROPHY system to the LEOPARD 2 A7 and tested it together with the BAAINBw and the German user.

In addition to installation, the contract also includes training and services.

The integration of TROPHY will be completed in 2023.

KMW commissioned to fit the TROPHY protection system for the German LEOPARD 2 - KMW

A description.
www.kmweg.com www.kmweg.com
 
The Israeli and German Defense Ministries have signed an agreement to equip ( as for now 17 of ) the German Bundeswehr Leopard 2A7A1 tanks with the TROPHY Active Protection System.
Sources (English and German):
https://twitter.com/x/status/1364128890495651846
View: https://twitter.com/Israel_MOD/status/1364128890495651846?s=20

www.edrmagazine.eu

German Bundeswehr to equip Leopard 2 MBT's with Rafael's TROPHY APS - EDR Magazine

Tel Aviv, February 23, 2021 – Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is announcing that the German Federal Ministry of Defense
www.edrmagazine.eu www.edrmagazine.eu
defense-update.com

Israel to Equip German Leopard Tanks with TROPHY APS - Defense Update:

The Israeli and German Defense Ministries have signed an agreement to equip the German Leopard 2A7A1 tanks with the TROPHY Active Protection System. The government-to-government (G2G) agreement covers the supply of APS to equip 17 tanks making a single company of the German Army.
defense-update.com defense-update.com
defence-blog.com

Germany to add Israeli active protection system to is Leopard-2 tanks

Israel’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Tuesday that the German Federal Ministry of Defense signed and signed a government-to-government (G2G) agreement to supply Israeli designed Trophy active protection system for their fleet of Leopard-2 main battle tanks. Within the agreement, Rafael...
defence-blog.com defence-blog.com
soldat-und-technik.de

Aktives Schutzsystem Trophy für Leopard 2 A7A1 – Verträge unterzeichnet

Das BAAINBw hat die Verträge für die Beschaffung und Integration des Abstandsaktiven Schutzsystems (APS) Trophy für einen Teil der Leopard 2 Flotte unterzeichnet.
soldat-und-technik.de soldat-und-technik.de
If you look at the pictures in the German article, I also agree, that the integration is better solved on the US Army MBT M1 Abrams than as on the Leopard 2 A7A1 tank.
 
I'm curious on the specification of the radar being used. Like it seems there arent really technical disclosure on the APS radar.
 
The Rafael ‘Trophy Active Protection System’ was selected for the British Army’s Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank, it has now moved into the next phase of trials.

A contract award notice states that Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in Haifa, Israel, has been awarded a £4.5m contract for Challenger 3 Active Protection System Phase 2A Trials.

The above is a brief summary of what is involved in converting tanks to ‘Challenger 3’ standard. The Active Protection System is no longer subject to contract, ‘Trophy’ has been selected.
Rafael last year announced that its ‘Trophy Active Protection System’ had been selected for the next phase of detailed assessment and integration by the Ministry of Defence for the British Army’s Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank.

The firm say that the selection is a result of a study conducted by the MoD as part of the upgrade programme led by prime contractor Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), which will entail detailed integration and system trials of this lighter Trophy variant (Trophy MV), to fit the particular requirements of this vehicle.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

Challenger 3 Active Protection System moves into next phase of trials

A contract award notice states that Israeli firm Rafael has been awarded a £4.5m contract for Challenger 3 'Active Protection System' phase 2A trials.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk ukdefencejournal.org.uk
 
Wow. i know Throphy is Bulky but.. from that top view. Just wow. That basically make the turret as wide or even bit wider than the tank.
 
stealthflanker said:
Wow. i know Throphy is Bulky but.. from that top view. Just wow. That basically make the turret as wide or even bit wider than the tank.
Click to expand...
Yeah I wouldn't want to be trying to maneuver an M1 with one of these through a forest or other particularly tight area. Makes me think they should really be looking at a new turret for a hypothetical M1A3.
 
Interesting take here:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1454014003638898688
View: https://twitter.com/JonHawkes275/status/1454014003638898688

For Twitter don't read:
Why APS don't have more than 2~4 rounds per arc? The claim that shrapnel from interceptions means (~100 fragments) will knock out exposed sensors (and other stuff), and lasting more than 4 interceptions intact is very unlikely and thus not worth the weight and volume costs, which is not light. If so, this is far from virtual immunity some have thought. It is more of a 2nd chance item.

One wonder if some kind of hyper fast armored shutter will get developed one day.
 
If so, this is far from virtual immunity some have thought. It is more of a 2nd chance item.

combined w/ air mobility issues, ability to cross bridges and deal w/ muddy terrain, and even gas milage this current APS strategy is way worse than programmed obsolesence already.
 
shin_getter said:
One wonder if some kind of hyper fast armored shutter will get developed one day.
Click to expand...


Best thing one can come up is somehow making the radar buried inside an armored enclosure and rely on reflector for beamsteering. Some kind of this.

offset phased array.png

The phased array will be inside the armored part. Which hopefully thick enough or hidden enough for not to attract enemy. The upper reflector can then hopefully be shut off in off threat condition.

Issues however remains in how much armoring needed. For example if one wish to armor the thing against say an EFP charge from say SADARM... it would take at least about 73.5 mm or a full 100 mm of steel for safety (as EFP penetration is roughly half of its diameter) This could be a weight penalty or if composite-ceramic are used.. bulky.

armoring against fragments will depend on expected fragment weight and velocity. This one might be more feasible.
 
fightingirish said:
The Israeli and German Defense Ministries have signed an agreement to equip ( as for now 17 of ) the German Bundeswehr Leopard 2A7A1 tanks with the TROPHY Active Protection System.
Sources (English and German):
https://twitter.com/x/status/1364128890495651846
View: https://twitter.com/Israel_MOD/status/1364128890495651846?s=20

www.edrmagazine.eu

German Bundeswehr to equip Leopard 2 MBT's with Rafael's TROPHY APS - EDR Magazine

Tel Aviv, February 23, 2021 – Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is announcing that the German Federal Ministry of Defense
www.edrmagazine.eu www.edrmagazine.eu
defense-update.com

Israel to Equip German Leopard Tanks with TROPHY APS - Defense Update:

The Israeli and German Defense Ministries have signed an agreement to equip the German Leopard 2A7A1 tanks with the TROPHY Active Protection System. The government-to-government (G2G) agreement covers the supply of APS to equip 17 tanks making a single company of the German Army.
defense-update.com defense-update.com
defence-blog.com

Germany to add Israeli active protection system to is Leopard-2 tanks

Israel’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Tuesday that the German Federal Ministry of Defense signed and signed a government-to-government (G2G) agreement to supply Israeli designed Trophy active protection system for their fleet of Leopard-2 main battle tanks. Within the agreement, Rafael...
defence-blog.com defence-blog.com
soldat-und-technik.de

Aktives Schutzsystem Trophy für Leopard 2 A7A1 – Verträge unterzeichnet

Das BAAINBw hat die Verträge für die Beschaffung und Integration des Abstandsaktiven Schutzsystems (APS) Trophy für einen Teil der Leopard 2 Flotte unterzeichnet.
soldat-und-technik.de soldat-und-technik.de
If you look at the pictures in the German article, I also agree, that the integration is better solved on the US Army MBT M1 Abrams than as on the Leopard 2 A7A1 tank.
Click to expand...

Any idea why the German Bundeswehr did not chose Rheinmetall's ADS or Diehl's AVePS and instead bought a foreign system?

Rheinmetall

Rheinmetall ist ein führendes internationales Systemhaus der Verteidigungsindustrie und zugleich Treiber zukunftsweisender Innovationen auf den zivilen Märkten.
www.rheinmetall-defence.com www.rheinmetall-defence.com

www.diehl.com

Reconnaissance and Protection | Diehl Defence

www.diehl.com www.diehl.com
 
Basil said:
fightingirish said:
The Israeli and German Defense Ministries have signed an agreement to equip ( as for now 17 of ) the German Bundeswehr Leopard 2A7A1 tanks with the TROPHY Active Protection System.
Sources (English and German):
https://twitter.com/x/status/1364128890495651846
View: https://twitter.com/Israel_MOD/status/1364128890495651846?s=20

www.edrmagazine.eu

German Bundeswehr to equip Leopard 2 MBT's with Rafael's TROPHY APS - EDR Magazine

Tel Aviv, February 23, 2021 – Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is announcing that the German Federal Ministry of Defense
www.edrmagazine.eu www.edrmagazine.eu
defense-update.com

Israel to Equip German Leopard Tanks with TROPHY APS - Defense Update:

The Israeli and German Defense Ministries have signed an agreement to equip the German Leopard 2A7A1 tanks with the TROPHY Active Protection System. The government-to-government (G2G) agreement covers the supply of APS to equip 17 tanks making a single company of the German Army.
defense-update.com defense-update.com
defence-blog.com

Germany to add Israeli active protection system to is Leopard-2 tanks

Israel’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Tuesday that the German Federal Ministry of Defense signed and signed a government-to-government (G2G) agreement to supply Israeli designed Trophy active protection system for their fleet of Leopard-2 main battle tanks. Within the agreement, Rafael...
defence-blog.com defence-blog.com
soldat-und-technik.de

Aktives Schutzsystem Trophy für Leopard 2 A7A1 – Verträge unterzeichnet

Das BAAINBw hat die Verträge für die Beschaffung und Integration des Abstandsaktiven Schutzsystems (APS) Trophy für einen Teil der Leopard 2 Flotte unterzeichnet.
soldat-und-technik.de soldat-und-technik.de
If you look at the pictures in the German article, I also agree, that the integration is better solved on the US Army MBT M1 Abrams than as on the Leopard 2 A7A1 tank.
Click to expand...

Any idea why the German Bundeswehr did not chose Rheinmetall's ADS or Diehl's AVePS and instead bought a foreign system?

Rheinmetall

Rheinmetall ist ein führendes internationales Systemhaus der Verteidigungsindustrie und zugleich Treiber zukunftsweisender Innovationen auf den zivilen Märkten.
www.rheinmetall-defence.com www.rheinmetall-defence.com

www.diehl.com

Reconnaissance and Protection | Diehl Defence

www.diehl.com www.diehl.com
Click to expand...
Could ask the same question for the us, frankly I think there are pretty serious issues that are keeping systems like quickstrike from getting into service but that's gust guess and there have been zero information on gust how well the national variants are doing (which is frankly making the isrealis decision to make a product that can only defend against rockets and atgms instead of trying for APFSDS protection seem genus consdering how nobody's managed to get a system to do that yet)
 
www.overtdefense.com

Israeli "Purple Thunder" Soft Kill APS Declassified - 20 Years On

Israel has declassified the existence of a soft-kill active protection system outfitted on the Merkava in the late 1990s and trialed in southern Lebanon.
www.overtdefense.com www.overtdefense.com
The Purple Thunder active protection system was a soft-kill system. Upon detection of an incoming anti-tank guided missile, the tank crew would be warned, and the turret turned in the direction of the incoming missile. A multispectral smokescreen would be deployed with the aid of additional smoke grenade launchers, causing missiles that entered the smokescreen to lose guidance and allowing the tank to reposition to evade the missile or return fire.

Such a system would seem to invite an entirely automated vehicle response, and thus invite the idea of a minimally manned or unmanned vehicle. Merkva has quite an advanced automated main gun system already. Instant torque electric systems etc. could very much quicken a response.
 
I woudl very much like to see how this system works in a typical combat group in realistic situations before I even get close to accepting it as having value. Next phase of testing?
 
Basil said:
Any idea why the German Bundeswehr did not chose Rheinmetall's ADS or Diehl's AVePS and instead bought a foreign system?

Rheinmetall

Rheinmetall ist ein führendes internationales Systemhaus der Verteidigungsindustrie und zugleich Treiber zukunftsweisender Innovationen auf den zivilen Märkten.
www.rheinmetall-defence.com www.rheinmetall-defence.com

www.diehl.com

Reconnaissance and Protection | Diehl Defence

www.diehl.com www.diehl.com
Click to expand...
My guess is that Trophy is working, even if only against ATGMs and RPGs. Relatively slow targets.

Everybody wants an APS that can deal with APFSDS, but it doesn't seem that anyone has made an APS that can yet.

Some additional protection is better than nothing, especially when Trophy will protect against one of the biggest threats to a tank, the infantry ATGM.


jsport said:
www.overtdefense.com

Israeli "Purple Thunder" Soft Kill APS Declassified - 20 Years On

Israel has declassified the existence of a soft-kill active protection system outfitted on the Merkava in the late 1990s and trialed in southern Lebanon.
www.overtdefense.com www.overtdefense.com
The Purple Thunder active protection system was a soft-kill system. Upon detection of an incoming anti-tank guided missile, the tank crew would be warned, and the turret turned in the direction of the incoming missile. A multispectral smokescreen would be deployed with the aid of additional smoke grenade launchers, causing missiles that entered the smokescreen to lose guidance and allowing the tank to reposition to evade the missile or return fire.

Such a system would seem to invite an entirely automated vehicle response, and thus invite the idea of a minimally manned or unmanned vehicle. Merkva has quite an advanced automated main gun system already. Instant torque electric systems etc. could very much quicken a response.
Click to expand...
So, it's the start of an automatic Sagger drill, less firing weapons?
 
Scott Kenny said:
So, it's the start of an automatic Sagger drill, less firing weapons?
Click to expand...
It is the start of the whole vehicle and it's systems as thee networked Active Protection System (APS). APSs are unmanned reactive systems.
 
TomS said:
Give how FPV drones have been used as essentially missiles in the Ukraine war, it make sense to test against them. But honestly, they have to be easier targets than most RPG or ATGM rounds.
Click to expand...
FPV drones can fly a much more challenging course to the target, however. And/or fly slowly enough that the radar gates them out as not a threat, but that's a software update away from being fixed.

ATGMs and RPGs fly the classic "constant bearing, decreasing range" (CBDR) course that is a guaranteed collision threat. It's very easy to program an FCS to look for and intercept anything flying on that profile. If CBDR, Then engage = yes. CBDR is effectively a stationary target as it approaches, you only need to adjust weapon elevation as range decreases.

Something that approaches the tank but not CBDR is a much more complicated intercept, you need to apply lead in 3 directions. First one is elevation change, second one is target speed, third one is your speed.
 
It looks like the problems of adding new systems like this to M1s has caused the army to close out the SEP4 update in favor of clean slate redesign (presumably new build?). Looking at the "M1X" mockup, it looks like Trophy is integrated into the footprint of the turret, perhaps in a area outside the turret armor. The current Trophy upgrade to M1 does looks rather slap dash, given the width increase as well as the addition of dead weight to the turret face.

www.army.mil

Army Announces Plans for M1E3 Abrams Tank modernization

The U.S. Army announced today the path forward for the M1E3 Abrams Main Battle Tank modernization program.
www.army.mil www.army.mil
 

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