US Army M1A2 Sep V2 MBT tanks fitted with Israeli Trophy active protection system.

The US Army has finally decided to install the Israeli-made Trophy active protection system on M1A2 Abrams SEP V2 main battle tank (MBT)in response to an urgent request. In September 2017, United States governments has published a contract to its official website announcing a contract for General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. to integrate Trophy on an Armor Brigade Combat Team’s M1A2 SEPv2 MBTs.

Rafael Trophy active protection system mounted on Abrams M1A2 main battle tank

Israel army has been deploying the Trophy active protection systems on its Merkava IV tanks since 2009. It has also been installed on the Namer heavy infantry fighting vehicle and the Eitan, a new wheeled armored personnel carrier set to be introduced into Israeli infantry battalions next year.

Trophy is a situational awareness and Active Protection Hard Kill (HK) System (APS) which is available in three main configurations: HV (Heavy armored Vehicle), MV (Medium and Light Armored Vehicle) and LV (Light Armored Vehicle). Both configurations dramatically boost the force’s survivability, and provide a vital add-on capability for the maneuvering combat teams.

Trophy-HV protects heavy (>30 ton) and medium weight (>15 ton) armored vehicles from a wide variety of threats ranging from rockets, ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) and platform-fired High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rounds. Trophy-HV offers 360° protection in azimuth, as well as extensive elevation coverage, while maintaining a pre-defined safety zone for friendly troops on the ground. The neutralization process is initiated only if the threat is about to hit the vehicle.

The first battlefield success of the Trophy occurred on March 1, 2011, when the system knocked out a rocket-propelled grenade fired at close distance to an IDF (Israeli Defense Force) Merkava Mark-IV tank close to the Gaza border. The Trophy system was also effective during other operations, including Operation Protective Edge in 2014, when no Israeli tanks were lost in Gaza.

Israeli army Merkava IV main battle tank equipped with Rafael Trophy active protection ystem (Photo source Rafael)