Israeli Trophy APS Active Protection Systems selected to be integrated on Challenger 3 tanks.

According to information released by the Israeli company Rafael on June 24, 2021, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. announces that its Trophy Active Protection System (APS) for armored vehicles has been selected for the next phase of detailed assessment and integration by the UK Ministry of Defence for the Army's Challenger 3 MBT (Main Battle Tank).
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The Trophy is also mounted on the American M1A2 Abrams. (Picture source Rafael)

The selection is a result of a study conducted by the UK MOD as part of an upgrade program led by prime contractor Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), which will entail detailed integration and system trials of this lighter Trophy variant (Trophy MV), to fit the particular requirements of this vehicle.

Developed by Rafael in response to successful anti-armor attacks, Trophy APS provides mature, combat-proven protection against rocket and missile threats and simultaneously locates the origin of the hostile fire for immediate response. The trophy is the only fully integrated, combat-proven APS in the world and has been installed on Israel Defense Forces' Merkava tanks since 2010, and has also been installed on the Namer APCs. The trophy has also been supplied to four US Army Abrams MBT brigades, and will soon be supplied to Germany for its Leopard MBTs (Main Battle Tanks).

The trophy has made numerous combat interceptions with no injuries to crews or dismounted troops or damage to platforms since its first operational interception in 2011. The trophy has accrued over 1,000,000 operating hours, including 5,400 successful field tests, and is now under contract for serial production of over 1,800 systems.

David Farmer, Team Leader for the Challenger 3 delivery team at Defence, Equipment & Support, the procurement arm of the UK MOD, said: "I am delighted to welcome Rafael to our cohort of industry delivery partners who are working together to bring Challenger 3 to life. This is a significant program for Defence, and the British Army and represents a huge shift in the modernization of our land forces. The pioneering new technology that we are planning to use will allow us to deliver an immense warfighting capability."

In May 2021, Army Recognition has announced, The British Army will receive a fleet of 148 Challenger 3 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) as part of an £800 million contract with Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL). The Challenger 3 will be a modernized version of the Challenger MBT featuring new improvements as new armor, a new suite of sights, and more. With its modular design, the Challenger 3 offers operational commanders an enhanced survivability suite capable of taking on any battlefield threats that it is likely to encounter across the world.

Brig. Gen (Ret.) Michael Lurie, head of Rafael's land maneuverability systems directorate: "Trophy APS has saved the lives of numerous soldiers and has been instrumental in protecting assets on the battlefield and enabling tank crews to maneuver safely under anti-tank fire and perform their missions safely and fully. This system has changed the rules of the game in the armored warfare arena, and the UK's decision to choose Trophy for the protection of its crews, ushers in a new era for its armored forces as well. We are thankful to our UK partners for joining other nations and tier-1 armored corps who have put their trust in Rafael's Trophy APS."

Future Challenger 3 MBT Main Battle Tank for British Army (Picture source British Army)