PROTECT HELICOPTERS FROM RPG’s

PROTECT HELICOPTERS FROM RPG’s

helicopter missionThis seems like science fiction but other Israeli systems looked like fantasy too, but now they are operational. The target this time – protect helicopters from weapons that many terror groups have – anti-tank rocket like RPG.

RAFAEL has unveiled part of the efforts it is doing to develop an active protection system for helicopters. According to the company, recent ground tests proved that the solution can become a very efficient protection system for helicopters.

Dubbed “Flicker”, the system works in a very similar way to the company’s Trophy that was developed to defend tanks and APC’s, from rockets and shells. This system is operational on the Israeli defense forces (IDF) “Merkava Mk4” MBT main battle tanks.

TROPHY creates 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.

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.

Unlike in the Trophy, the “Flicker” is designed to launch a special projectile that will defeat the incoming threat.

Sources said that the company will use integral aircraft sensors to save weight. The “Flicker” will use a special interceptor war-head. In a recent test, the warhead proved that its shreds caused minor hits in the ground target that depicted a helicopter.

But the more important result – the “Flicker’s” interceptor hit the warhead of the RPG anti-tank rocket and exploded it.

The effort is focused on downsizing the system’s different parts so that it can be installed on a helicopter.