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Why the U.S. Army Chose Israel's Trophy System to Protect Its M1 Abrams Tanks
(National Interest) Dave Majumdar - The U.S. Army has awarded Leonardo DRS a $193 million contract to equip the service's M1 main battle tanks with the Israeli-developed Trophy active protection system (APS). Developed by Israel's Rafael Systems, Trophy is designed to defeat modern rocket propelled grenades such as the tandem-charge RPG-29 and anti-tank guided missiles such as the Russian Kornet and Chinese HJ-8. "Aboard [Israeli] Merkava tanks, the system has proven 100% effective during multiple engagements in and around the Gaza Strip since its fielding, and especially during the Israel Defense Forces' 2014 Operation Protective Edge," Leonardo DRS said in an internal publication. "In dense, urban terrain and an intense electromagnetic environment, Trophy successfully defeated attacks by both short-range, tandem RPG-29 rockets and long-range Kornet missiles. No tanks equipped with Trophy suffered hits, casualties or residual effects - nor did any accompanying infantry troops - during any of these engagements." With new precision-guided anti-tank missiles proliferating, the Army needs APS systems for all of its combat vehicles as soon as possible.