The German and Israeli defense ministries, in cooperation with the German tank manufacturer Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW) and the Israeli arms company Rafael, have carried out a first successful test campaign of the Trophy distance active protection system (APS) on the Leopard 2 main battle tank in live fire according to a message from the Israeli Ministry of Defense on Twitter.
According to Israeli information, over 90 percent of the incoming projectiles were apparently successfully intercepted and the source of the shot was accurately identified. Further details about the duration and exact timing of the test campaign were not disclosed.
The Bundeswehr wants to equip 17 Leopard 2 main battle tanks with Trophy - this is the equipment for a tank company - and also a test vehicle.
To this end, Rafael, the manufacturer of the Trophy system, is to deliver 187 distance-active protection systems in 23 sets of devices and the associated ammunition for around 40 million euros. The majority of deliveries are scheduled for 2023. In addition, the training of management personnel (operators and repair technicians) is part of the scope of the contract.
Mit der Integration der Schutzsysteme in die Kampfpanzer und der Auslieferung der ausgestatteten Kampfpanzer wird KMW beauftragt. Der Vertrag ist mit rund 80 Millionen Euro dotiert, etwa zwei Drittel des Volumens für das gesamte Projekt. Der Bund stellt 17 Türme Leopard 2 A6 A3 und für den Versuchsträger einen Turm (Leopard 2 VT-ETB) bei, in die KMW die Schutzsysteme integriert. Die Türme mit eingebauten Trophy-Systemen werden mit neugebauten Fahrgestellen „verheiratet“, die KMW eigens für dieses Projekt herstellt. Neue Fahrgestelle sind unter anderem erforderlich, um die zusätzlich notwendige Stromversorgung unterbringen zu können. Außerdem liefert KMW Spezialcontainer für Transport und Aufbewahrung von Komponenten, Sonderwerkzeugen und Zubehör des Schutzsystems. Dazu gehören Trophy-Attrappen, die genutzt werden, wenn die scharfen Systeme nicht aufgebaut werden können oder sollen.
The schedule calls for work to begin immediately. According to the focus of the work in 2023, the main battle tanks with protective systems are to be delivered between 2024 and 2025.
Trophy essentially consists of four components: Flat AESA radar sensors record the battlefield around the tank and display incoming objects. The evaluation and fire control electronics classify the objects and assess whether they pose a threat to the tank. If so, the weapon launchers are aimed at the target and a project-forming charge (Multiple Explosively Formed Projectile, MEFP) is fired as a countermeasure that neutralizes the threat at an optimal distance so that no significant damage is caused to the vehicle. The fourth component is the energy supply in the specially adapted tank chassis.
In addition to effectiveness, the decisive application criterion for distance-active protection systems is the safety of automatic triggering. On the one hand, Trophy must reliably detect threats and trigger the countermeasure reliably. On the other hand, false triggering must not occur. When the system is switched on, the effective area of the countermeasure is a danger area in which no one is allowed to stay. Resolving the dilemma between protecting the tank crew and endangering forces in the surrounding area is an important topic in the training of tank crews.
Waldemar Geiger and Gerhard Heiming
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