Leonardo and Rafael have delivered the first Trophy Active Protection Systems (APS) to defend the US Army’s Abrams main battle tanks.
This delivery marks the first of several that will ultimately outfit four brigades of tanks. Under contracts awarded last year on an urgent needs basis by the Army’s Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems, the companies are equipping front-line M1 Abrams tanks for both the US Army and Marine Corps with their first APS systems.
The deliveries are the culmination of a multi-year qualification process. A joint team of government and industry from both the U.S. and Israel worked together to adapt and integrate Trophy for both Army and Marine Corps Abrams variants.
“We are proud to deliver the first advanced defensive protection systems for our front-line tanks to give our warfighters a needed layer of survivability against real and emerging battlefield threats,” William Lynn, CEO of Leonardo, said. “Our partnership between Leonardo DRS and RAFAEL has worked tirelessly to bring this battle-proven technology to the U.S. military while improving the system to meet the stringent needs and requirements from the customer.”
Trophy provides protection against rocket and missile threats and locates the origin of the hostile fire for immediate response.
Rafael CEO and President MAJGEN (Ret.) Yoav Har-Even said the delivery “marks a major milestone in US-Israel cooperation."