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TROPHY (in Hebrew: "מעיל רוח", lit. "Wind Coat") is a protective shield system for both light and heavy armored vehicles that intercepts and destroys missiles and rockets with a shotgun-like blast just before they hit. TROPHY was developed by RAFAEL together with Israel Aircraft Industries' Elta Group. The system is known as an "active protection system" (APS). The developers claim it is a major milestone in weapons design. They would have a system like TROPHY reduce or eliminate the need for heavy armor for combat vehicles.
TROPHY Design
Currently, the system is designed for the Stryker light armored vehicle and for the Israeli Merkava main battle tank. The design includes four flat-panel antennas and a search radar mounted on the vehicle. When properly mounted, the combined radar view is a full 360 degrees. When a weapon is fired at the vehicle, the internal computer uses the signal from the incoming weapon and calculates an approach vector. Once the incoming weapon is fully classified, the computers calculate the optimal time and angle to fire the neutralizers. The response comes from two launchers installed on the vehicle, one on each side. The launchers have a pivoting/rotating ability and thus are able to fire in any direction the computer requires. The launchers fire the neutralizing agents which are usually small metal pellets like shotgun shot. The system is designed to have a very small kill zone so the lethality outside that zone is small. People standing next to the vehicle should not be affected by the firing of the TROPHY system.
Weapons TROPHY neutralizes
The system is designed to work against all types of guided anti-tank missiles and rockets, including the ubiquitous rocket propelled grenades. The shield system also works against multiple threats and while the vehicle is in motion. Newer versions of the system include a reload feature for multiple firings.Advantages of TROPHY
One of the main advantages of the TROPHY system is the possibility of reducing the heavy armor now required to defend vehicles. This means much lighter tanks and battle taxis that could be airlifted to future battlefields. It also opens the way to greater use of armored vehicles inside urban areas where bridges and buildings often don't support the weight of today's heavy main battle tanks. Use of TROPHY on the Stryker vehicle will negate the need for the heavy "slat" armor and the vehicle will be able to fit into a C-130 in full battle ready condition. Currently, "slat" armor must be removed before the vehicle is loaded into the plane and reattached at the destination. The APS seeks to eliminate this step. In addition, the newer, smaller size will enable the vehicle to negotiate urban areas currently inaccessible to a fully armored vehicle.
Fiction
- Military Sci-fi author David Drake's Hammer's Slammers have this kind of defensive system.
External Links
See also
- Merkava tank
- RAFAEL
- General Dynamics
- Israel Defence Forces
- Point Defence
- Arena, similar Russian system
Military equipment of Israel | RAFAEL Armament Development Authority
"TROPHY Active Protection System"