From the Ground to the Air – The Effort Continues

From the Ground to the Air – The Effort Continues

This post is also available in: heעברית (Hebrew)

By ARIE EGOZI

Two unique Israeli active protection systems designed to defend tanks and APC’s from rockets and shells, may be converted for use on helicopters.

This adaptation is not easy to achieve but efforts are being made with hope. The talk about it at this point is in low profile, as if not to create expectations but something is going on.

The Trophy made by Rafael and the Iron Fist made by Israel military industries (IMI) create a hemispheric protected zone around the vehicle where incoming threats are intercepted and defeated. When a threat is detected identified and verified, the system launches the classified interceptor and it deflects and destabilizes the rocket or shell so that it does not hit its target.

Both systems are using special radar sensors to locate and identify the threats.

While the Israeli Air Force (IAF) helicopters are using EW systems against missiles, there is a need to protect them against weapons like RPG rockets. These have downed many helicopters in Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan.

Both companies confirmed that there is a “thought” about developing versions of the systems that will be carried by helicopters. Both companies were reluctant to be more specific but sources said that the interest comes from some foreign air forces that have encountered the problem.

Converting the systems will involve downsizing them and changing the way the interceptors are being launched to defeat the incoming threat.

The Trophy has proved its efficiency in many encounters in Southern and Northern Israel  when it defeated a Russian made anti tank rockets and missiles that were launched to hit a Merkava-4 main battle tank (MBT).