Active Protection Systems

[Kirkhill]

We have discussed APS (Active Protection Systems) in the context of tanks but I think it is time we considered the APS as a system unto itself.

APS is now being installed on tanks, IFVs, APCs, support vehicles and 4x4s as well as under consideration for static applications.

Which leads me to see the APS as a continuation of a spectrum that starts with the APS, continues through LAA/C-UAS and up through GBAD with GBAD covering all threats up to ICBMs and Long Range bombers.

Common elements seem to be

Continuous monitoring of the space
Detection of incoming threats
Tracking of incoming threats
Launch of Counter-measures of any and all sorts.

The IDF are going into Gaza again – but this time they have a new trick

Not just mowing the grass but killing it

www.telegraph.co.uk

this time, not only are the Israelis much more angry than usual – justifiably – they have a new, potentially game-changing piece of kit. This is called an Active Protection System (APS).

The effects of this are three-fold: first, many fewer armoured vehicles are knocked out and many fewer IDF troops are killed or wounded. Secondly, the IDF don’t feel the same pressing need to shoot, blow up or flatten anything that looks suspicious, as they are in much less danger. Fewer civilians are hit and there is less destruction. Thirdly, when someone makes a missile or RPG attack on IDF armour, he is much less likely to survive and do it again.

In 2014 for Protective Edge, the IDF had the Trophy APS, but only on their Merkava MBTs: other vehicles, the infantry carriers, D9 dozers etc, didn’t have such protection. It was noticeable that not a single tank was lost that time, with the Trophy knocking down previously deadly threats like the Kornet, Metis-M and RPG-29 “Vampir”: but the IDF were still badly bloodied, as not everyone can ride in a tank. At the time, Trophy was too heavy and power-hungry to be mounted on lighter vehicles.

But since then, the Israelis have been working hard on APS technology, and it has spread across the IDF. There are lighter versions of Trophy, and a new line of systems called Iron Fist. Various classes of armoured infantry vehicles have been equipped with APS, and so have the D9 dozers. This time, when the Israelis go into the Strip, most of them are likely to be riding in APS-equipped vehicles.

the latest versions will not only swat down relatively slow-moving missiles, rockets, recoilless-rifle rounds and such like. Elbit, maker of the Iron Fist, says that its latest models can also defeat the hypervelocity penetrators fired from MBT main guns – so-called armour-piercing fin stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds.

Active Protection Systems - General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems

www.gd-ots.com

Zaslin Active Protection System - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A course of action for the IDF?

Once they get into Gaza and reestablish their Observation Towers that were knocked out by UAVs could they harden those towers with APS systems and also seed the streets with static APS systems?

There are already cities with sniper detection systems permanently installed. How about APS systems at every intersection detecting and destroying any RPG or ATGM rounds in flight?

 

[KevinB]

APS can’t be remote as someone will either just take them or physically damage them.

 

[Kirkhill]

APS can’t be remote as someone will either just take them or physically damage them.

Missed this one....

Covered by fire
Covered by observation
Overlapping arcs
Mutual support

A minefield covered by MGs as a model.

APS systems can indeed be based on remote installation. Especially when mixed with static RWS mounts.

 

[KevinB]

Missed this one....

Covered by fire
Covered by observation
Overlapping arcs
Mutual support

A minefield covered by MGs as a model.

APS systems can indeed be based on remote installation. Especially when mixed with static RWS mounts.

Your first example talked about cities with sniper detection. Those aren’t an active system. Then putting an APS at intersections in cities…

You’re now talking about C-RAM with RWS MG’s etc covering them in a civilian population?

 

[Kirkhill]

Your first example talked about cities with sniper detection. Those aren’t an active system. Then putting an APS at intersections in cities…

You’re now talking about C-RAM with RWS MG’s etc covering them in a civilian population?

Thanks.... I should have checked the backstory. Error.

 

[KevinB]

Thanks.... I should have checked the backstory. Error.

No worries. The other issue with APS is they generally have a very short range, as they are generally only designed to protect the single vehicle they are on.

Eventually I suspect they will be networked across systems much like AD and C-RAM, are, and now some C-UAS are.

 

[Kirkhill]

No worries. The other issue with APS is they generally have a very short range, as they are generally only designed to protect the single vehicle they are on.

Eventually I suspect they will be networked across systems much like AD and C-RAM, are, and now some C-UAS are.