Active Defense System’s Success was Beyond Expectations

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An automatic countermeasure system successfully deflected 15 out of 15 anti-tank guided missile attacks during a recent US Army live fire exercise. The Modular Active Protection Systems (MAPS) detected the incoming missiles and deflected them off target by jamming their guidance signals.

The Lockheed Martin system is an active defense which counters incoming threats before they reach target. It consists of a collection of sensors and “soft” countermeasures that detect missiles and then deflect them from their target.

There are two similar Israeli systems, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and by IMI Systems.

The modular, open-architecture system enables the platform to not only be reconfigured for specific platforms and missions, but to also accept modules developed by third parties.

The base kit is made up of a controller, user interface, power management distribution system, network switch, and application software for controlling and directing sensors and countermeasures. This allows it to be installed on current vehicles, and also to support future vehicle protection systems.

In the recent exercise, the US Army integrated three new countermeasures and a cueing sensor into MAPS. In addition, Lockheed led efforts to integrate an Ariel Photonics countermeasure into the MAPS framework, and worked with BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman to support the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center with equipment integration.