Survival of the quickest.

Defensive aids suites are a comparatively recent development created in recognition of the fact that armour cannot guarantee the survivability of a main battle tank let alone the more numerous light and medium fighting vehicles. Military operations in Chechnya, Somalia and in Iraq have shown how easy it is, especially in urban environments, to attack vehicles from the flanks and rear.

Although the weight of tanks such as the American Abrams, the British Challenger 2, the German Leopard 2 and the Israeli Merkava Mk 4 exceeds 60 tonnes it is impossible to provide the same level of all-round protection as is available on the tank's frontal arc. For insurgent groups around the world the rocket propelled grenade (RPG) and the improvised explosive device will remain the weapons of choice for attacking military vehicles. The availability of improved warheads from a variety of sources will possibly make the RPG even more potent.

The US Army stated in its Fiscal Year 2006 budget request, <<that as combat vehicle systems become smaller and lighter to provide the necessary strategic deployability and tactical mobility, one of the greatest technological and operational challenges is providing adequate crew and vehicle protection without reliance on heavy passive armor.>>

Under the Future Combat Systems (FCS) project the US Army is seeking to acquire a new generation of armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) that, with a target weight of 20 tonnes, will weigh less than a third of the latest M1A2, one of the world's best protected tanks. Survivability will be achieved by a combination of technologies, including defensive aid systems (Das), electronic warfare systems, signature management and advanced lightweight armour. This article will examine protection systems in service and under development. Later this year Armada will discuss new armour technology.

Threats to armoured fighting vehicles include:

* shoulder-launched light anti-armour weapons such as the RPG-7 and M72

* first- and second-generation, semiautomatic, command to line-of-sight (Saclos) anti-tank guided weapons such as the AT-3 'Sagger', Milan and Tow

* laser-guided missiles such as the Hell-fire or Copperhead projectile 

* kinetic energy (KE) projectiles fired from small and medium calibre guns on infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) and large calibre guns on tanks

* high-velocity long-rod KE projectiles.

The operational concept of a Defensive Aids System--the accurate detection and tracking of a threat and the timely deployment of a countermeasure to defeat the threat--is simple to express but notoriously difficult to achieve. The entire process must be completed within seconds, at a very short range, in all weather conditions and with minimal risk of collateral damage to nearby personnel and vehicles.

Defensive aid systems are divided into two categories: countermeasures or "soft kill' systems and active or 'hard-kill' systems. Soft-kill systems are intended to confuse and divert threat missiles by using signature reduction measures, obscurants, jammers and decoys. An active system engages and destroys or disrupts an incoming missile or projectile before it strikes the target vehicle. It is a close-in system that theoretically creates an active defensive fire zone at a safe distance around the vehicle.

Soviet Innovation

The Soviet Union was the first to deploy a defensive aid suite. This was the Drozd (Thrush) system fitted in the early 1980s on the T-55s of the naval infantry. The system was developed by KBP to defeat Nato missiles such as the Tow, Milan and Hot. The Drozd consists of a pair of millimetric-wave sensors mounted on each side of the turret to detect incoming missiles and a quadruple 107 mm rocket launcher mounted below each sensor. Including the rockets the system weighs almost 1000 kg. When the sensors detect an incoming missile two munitions are launched. A fuse detonates the munition and a cone of fragments is directed into the path of the missile to destroy it at a safe distance from the tank. The Drozd only provides coverage over the frontal arc of the turret leaving the flanks and rear vulnerable to attack, although the system's orientation can be changed by rotating the turret. It was fitted on T-62 and T-80 tanks deployed in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation and the manufacturer claims the system was 80 per cent successful in defeating RPG attacks. The Drozd was offered on the export market for around $ 30,000. KBP later developed the Drozd-2 system for export with additional millimetric-wave sensors and launch tubes to extend the system's coverage.

The Shtora-1 soft-kill system was first fielded on the Russian T-90 that entered service in 1993. The Shtora-1 has been exhibited at defence exhibitions fitted on Russian T-80U and Ukrainian T-84 tanks as a stand-alone upgrade or part of a package that could also include the Drozd-2. The Shtora-1 consists of four major components: a laser warning system, the electro-optical interface station that includes a jammer, modulator and control panel, a control system consisting of control panel, microprocessor and manual screen-laying panel and banks of forward-firing grenade launchers that are mounted on both sides of the tank turret. The complete system weighs 400 kg.

The Shtora-1 has a 360[degrees] field-of-view horizontally and -5 to +25[degrees] in elevation. When the laser warning system detects a threat laser it alerts the tank commander who then presses a button that automatically turns the turret to face the threat and launch the countermeasures grenades. These form an aerosol screen between 50 and 70 metres in front of the turret in less than three seconds. TShU1-7 electro-optical jammers are intended to jam laser rangefinders, laser target designators and Saclos guided missiles within two seconds of a threat being detected. One jammer each is located on either side of the tank's main gun.

KBM also developed the Arena-E hard-kill system in the early 1990s and this has been exhibited on the T-80 and the BMP-3. The system weighs between 1000 and 1300 kg depending on configuration. A fixed radar mounted on the rear of the turret provides coverage of between 220[degrees] and 290[degrees] with a dead area to the rear. The system's fully automatic operation sees the radar detect a threat approaching the vehicle within the designated speed band at about 50 metres from the vehicle. The system enters target data into the Arena-E's computer, the latter determines which of the 22 to 26 protective charges is best positioned to intercept and launches the round which detonates above the path of the incoming warhead, generating a cone of splinters. Although the incoming warhead is detonated far enough from the vehicle to cause no damage there is a danger zone of up to 30 metres in radius for infantry. According to KBM the time from target detection to destruction is 0.07 seconds (70 milliseconds).

The Arena-E is able to protect against many types of anti-tank threats but like most, if not all systems available today, it cannot defeat high velocity missiles and/ or KE projectiles. It is believed to cost about $ 300,000 per system or about 15 per cent of the cost of a Russian main battle tank. As the Russian Army is starved for cash the Arena-E seems primarily intended for the export market. According to the manufacturer, a tank fitted with both Shorta and Arena will be five times more likely to survive on the battlefield than a tank without.

The Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force was the first to field a soft-kill system with the introduction of the Mitsubishi Type 90 tank in the early 1990s. The ban on exporting defence equipment means that few details of this system have been released. A laser-warning receiver is mounted on the front of the turret roof that provides an audio signal and direction of threat indication at the commander's station. It can be programmed to automatically launch screening munitions. A similar sensor is also mounted on the Mitsubishi Type 89 infantry fighting vehicle.

The first Nato tank to incorporate a soft-kill protection system was the Giat Leclerc, which entered French service in 1992 and United Arab Emirates service two years later. The Leclerc is fitted with the Galix launcher system, developed by Giat and Lacroix Tous Artifices. From nine 80 mm launch tubes fitted either side of the turret roof the Galix can launch multi-band visual/infrared/laser-screening smoke grenades and infrared decoys. The screening round becomes effective in less than two seconds and provides protection for over 30 seconds in wind conditions of four metres/sec. The Galix can also launch smoke, tear gas, anti-personnel and illumination rounds. A weakness in the Leclerc configuration is that the tank is not yet fitted with a laser detection system to cue a countermeasures response. The Galix launchers have been widely exported. The Swedish Army's KMW Leopard 2(S), given the local designation Strv 122, and the Bofors/Alvis Hagglunds CV 90 IFV are fitted with the Galix system. The Italian Army's Ariete tank is fitted with the Ralm (Ricevitore di Alarme Laser) coupled to Galix launchers mounted on each side of the turret.

Giat is installing the Galix as part of an upgrade package to keep 300 French Army AMX-10RC 6 x 6 reconnaissance vehicles operational until between 2015 to 2020. The Galix is also an element in the Kit Basique de Contre-Mesures (KBCM) that Giat has developed under contract to the French Delegation Generale pour l'Armement and installed in an AMX-10RC for trials purposes. This technology demonstrator includes a man-machine interface and central processing system, an infrared electro-optical jamming unit, a laser warning receiver and Galix launchers. The KBCM can be integrated with Giat's Finders (Fast Information Navigation Decision and Reporting System) battle management system. The KBCM is expected to be included in a comprehensive upgrade of the Leclerc planned for the next decade to enable the tank to operate effectively within the army's Bulle Operationnelle Aeroterrestre (BOA) network enabled operations force.

Under another contract from the DGA, Giat is working with Thales and the Institut de Saint Louis to develop the Spatem (System de Protection Active Contre les Tetes Militaires) active defence system. The Spatem will use electro-magnetic and infrared sensors to detect incoming threats at a distance of about 50 metres and launch a Rampe charge to destroy the threat at least five metres from the vehicle. A demonstration of the system is scheduled for 2006. The Spatem is planned to be fitted in the Leclerc, the future EBXX (formerly known as the EBRC).

Trophy from Israel

As survivability was the primary consideration that influenced the original design of Israel's Merkava tank it is not surprising that the Israel Defence Force has embraced a global approach to protection with the development of improved models of the tank.

Amcoram's LWS-2 was incorporated as a production feature with the introduction of the Merkava Mk 3 in 1989 and the Merkava Mk 4, unveiled formally in June 2002. The LWS-2 consists of a command and control display on the commander's monitor screen, a data processing unit and three sensor heads mounted on the tank's turret to provide 360[degrees] coverage. The LWS-2 indicates whether the radiation is from a laser rangefinder, laser designator, infrared searchlight or other source. The system can trigger countermeasures such as smoke launchers, jamming systems and hard-kill devices. The Israel Military Industries CL-3030 instantaneous self-screening system is mounted either side of the Merkava's turret. The LWS-2 follows on from the earlier Violin Mk 1 and Mk 2 countermeasures devices.

During the Low Intensity Conflict 2005 (LIC 2005) exhibition in Tel Aviv in March 2005 a consortium led by Rafael Armament Development Authority unveiled the Trophy active protection system. Trophy is the result of a ten-year collaborative development project between Rafael and Israeli Aircraft Industries/Elta that was funded by the Israeli Ministry of Defence and led by the Directorate of Research and Development. The IDF claims that the Trophy is the most mature APS system in the world and that it can defeat <<all types of Heat threats including all known types of antitank guide missiles and anti-tank rockets>>. According to Rafael the performance of the Trophy is not degraded when the vehicle is in motion, by weather conditions or in close and urban terrain. With a total weight of less than 454 kg the Trophy can be integrated onto light, medium and heavy platforms. At LIC 2005 the Trophy was exhibited as a retrofit on the Merkava Mk3 and on one of the three General Dynamics Land Systems 8 x 8 Strykers that were shipped to Israel for evaluation in 2004. The IDF's immediate priority is to install the Trophy in its new Merkava Mk 4s. Future developments to the Trophy are planned to include measures to defeat KE threats.

The Trophy is designed to pose a low risk to nearby troops, civilians and friendly vehicles, and a munition will only be launched when the tracking sensors confirm a missile or rocket is a threat to the vehicle. The IDF and the various industrial partners are deliberately vague about the nature of the interceptor; however, sources suggest the munition forms a beam of fragments to intercept the threat at a range of 10 to 30 metres from the vehicle. According to Rafael the system can defeat <<several threats from each direction arriving simultaneously>>. It also has an automatic reload facility.

South Africa 

South Africa's Avitronics, jointly owned by local company Grintek and Saab of Sweden, has developed the Laser Warning System for Combat Vehicles (LWSCV). This comprises a Laser Warning Controller and a number of sensors. Installing four LWS-300 sensors will provide 360[degrees] azimuth protection and the addition of one LWS-500 sensor provides full hemispherical coverage and an antireflection capability. Avitronics claims the system can detect "all known lasers associated with anti-armour threats" and deal with eight threats simultaneously. In September 2002 Avitronics and Etienne Lacroix signed a marketing agreement to offer the LWSCV and the Galix launcher as a package. In 2004 Avitronics delivered an LWSCV system to Diehl-BGT Defense for integration on the German Army Vehtronics Demonstrator.

At the African Aerospace and Defence 2004 exhibition Avitronics unveiled its new Land Electronic Defence System 100 (Leds 100) to protect <<against engagement by weapons like the RPG-7, anti-tank guns, missiles and artillery shells>>.

This system has been designed primarily for installation in light and medium armoured vehicles and "several" unspecified European customers have ordered systems for evaluation. The company hopes the compact system will be attractive to international and non-governmental organisations engaged in monitoring and humanitarian relief in conflict areas. Avitronics is also optimistic that the system will be selected as part of the South African Army's project to acquire a new IFV. The Leds 100 system consists of an LWS 310 laser-warning system, an active defence controller, a commander's controller and display, crew displays and a twelve-tube countermeasures launcher that rotates 360[degrees] to provide complete coverage. Avitronics believes that the launcher, which can turn 90[degrees] in less than 100 milliseconds, is a significant advantage over turret-mounted countermeasures launchers with a fixed arc. In the fully automatic mode the Leds 100 response cycles take less than 700 milliseconds. Initially the system will launch multi-spectral smoke munitions but future growth plans include the development of a hard-kill munition. Other options include flares, fragmentation grenades for protection against infantry and possibly non-lethal munitions in the future for peace support operations. The system can also be fitted with an infrared jammer to counter older generation missiles that are widely found in Africa. <<In full and final configuration Leds will defeat the complete threat spectrum from RPG through indirect mortar and artillery fire to smart top attack and finally KE long rods,>> Avitronics director Cobus van der Merwe told Armada.

Muss on Pumas

The Germany Army has become the launch customer for the Eads Defence Electronics Multifunction Self-protection System (Muss) following its selection of the new Puma being developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall. Eads and KMW have received a 21 million [euro] contract for the final development, integration, testing and qualification of the Muss on the five Puma prototype vehicles ordered in December 2004. This is expected to lead to a production contract, estimated to be worth up to 200 million [euro], to equip the 405 Pumas scheduled to be delivered between 2008 and 2019.

Since 1997 the German BWB defence procurement agency has funded the development and testing of the Muss. In 2003 a prototype system was installed on a Leopard 2A5 tank which successfully defended itself against various missile threats during trials. The Puma configuration will include four Missile/Laser Threat Alerting System (Miltas) units installed on the turret. These will be linked to an active infrared jammer and a 76 mm grenade launcher. According to Eads the Muss provides protection in 360[degrees] azimuth and 70[degrees] elevation and can counter four threats simultaneously.

Eads and KMW are working on the Muss Compact for installation on the Leopard 2, the Fennek armoured reconnaissance vehicle and the Boxer (all built by KMW) when these vehicles are deployed to high threat environments. The system, which has a target weight of 130 kg, includes a mast unit with four Miltas sensors and the infrared jammer and eight 76 mm grenade launchers. The grenade launchers are functional even when the mast is folded.

The munitions will be supplied by the recently formed Rheinmetall Waffe Munition, which incorporates Buck Neue Technologien, the subsidiary that designed and produced self-protection munitions for air, land and sea applications. Rheinmetall's Maske multispectral smoke grenade is available in 66, 76 and 81 mm calibres. The design is based on a bi-modular concept that incorporates a rapid-reaction jamming module producing intense over-radiation utilising proven decoy technology and a long duration module producing visual and infrared screening smoke. In September 2001 the British Ministry of Defence bought 100,000 vehicle-launched grenades.

Rheinmetall has adapted the technology of its rotating Mass (Multi-Ammunition Softkill System) naval protection system launcher to develop the Light Vehicle Protection System. This is available in two variants: a horizontally trainable launcher with two 'magazines' each of five launchers that can be installed on a vehicle's roof or rollover bar and a fixed launcher with three 'magazines'. The unloaded two-tier launcher weighs approximately 15 kg while the new 40 mm grenades weigh approximately 260 grams each. The grenades are designed to burst 32 metres from the vehicle and create a 27 x 3-metre screen. The system is being proposed for light vehicles such as the Germany Army's Dingo, Fennek, Mungo, Wiesel and Wolf.

Diehl developed the Awiss (Abstandswirksames Schutzsystem) as a lightweight hard-kill that is for installation in light and heavy vehicles (see title picture). The system consists of a search and tracking Kaband radar linked to a launch unit with a sensor and three or four launch tubes. With a response rate of 355 milliseconds the system detects incoming threats at a range of 75 metres and launches a three-kg grenade to intercept the threat ten metres from the vehicle. With a radar and two launchers to provide 360[degrees] coverage it weighs 400 kg.

The Ruag Close-Range Active Defence (Crad) munition for active defence is in its final stages of development. It employs the controlled fragmentation technology used in the 60 and 81 mm Mapam mortar bombs. Each Crad munition is launched from a standard 76 mm Wegmann smoke grenade launcher to a range of 35 metres where it detonates at a height of about three to seven metres, creating a forward-moving cloud of more than 1000, four-millimetre diameter steel pellets each weighing 0.266 grams. In a recent firing in Switzerland, the Crad demonstrated that none of the pellets fired backwards, meaning that any soldier standing or walking to the side of the vehicle remains safe.

Britain Studies Das

Under the British Midas (Ministry of Defence and Industry Defensive Aids Systems) project research was conducted into a range of low-risk technologies that culminated in a demonstration in 1995. In the mid-90s the Tams (Tank Anti-Missile System) was proposed. It consisted of a mini-turret containing surveillance and tracking radars and two 7.62 mm machine guns. The various research efforts did not result in any procurement programmes, which is perhaps as much a reflection of the British Army's protracted efforts to develop a coherent armoured fighting vehicle strategy as budgetary pressures.

Under the Future Army Structure approved in 2004 the army will retain the Challenger 2 and the Warrior for a further 30 years to equip two heavy brigades. A new Future Rapid Effect System (Fres) family of armoured vehicles will enter service early in the next decade to equip three medium brigades. In June 2005 the Defence Procurement Agency was expected to issue an invitation to tender for a Hard Kill Defensive Aid Suite integration study to BAE Systems, as design authority for most British Army armoured vehicles. The study will examine the integration of a suite on light, medium and heavy vehicles. This will be part of a broader effort to demonstrate a full protection package, including armour, for the Fres.

As a private venture Thales Land & Joint Systems has developed the Cerberus soft-kill system. Described as "suitable for any vehicle application" the Cerberus comprises four main assemblies: a set of LWD2 detector arrays, an active junction box, a control/display box and grenade launchers. Each detector array incorporates one overhead and six azimuth sensors so that theoretically two back-to-back arrays could provide 360 degree and overhead coverage. In practise four to six arrays would be mounted on light or medium vehicles while up to twelve arrays could be fitted on heavy vehicles. Over 300 Cerberus systems are in service. The Cerberus II uses a single Goodrich AN/VVR-3 laser detecting system with beamrider laser detection capability in place of the LWD2 detector arrays to provide 360[degrees] coverage.This has a response time of less than 100 milliseconds. The Cerberus II can be integrated with 66, 76 or 81 mm grenade launchers manufactured by Thales. When warning of an incoming missile is received a salvo of eight grenades is launched that within two seconds will provide a 180[degrees] smokescreen centred on the axis of the incoming missile.

The AN/VVR-2 Laser Detecting Set (LDS) from Goodrich is at the heart of the threat warning system installed in more than 700 of the Canadian Army's Coyote reconnaissance and Lav III series 8 x 8 vehicles from General Dynamics Land Systems--Canada. Mounted on the turret roof the system detects rangefinder, including single-pulse, and designator threats over a 360[degrees] area of coverage. The system is linked to the commander's and driver's displays from DRS Technologies that provide both audible and visual warnings. Defence Research and Development Canada, in collaboration with Canadian industry, is funding a project to develop and demonstrate a combination of systems including sensors and countermeasures to protect the army's Lay against missiles, rockets and projectiles. Among the first production systems to emerge from this project is the Ferret small arms detection system from MacDonald Dettwiler. The rapid development of the Ferret is a reflection of the tactical needs of the war on terrorism with the systems first being fielded in Afghanistan.

Project Balancing in US

The US Army's M1A1 lacks a defensive suite although the AN/VLQ-6 Missile Countermeasure Device (MCD) became available shortly after the 1990-91 Gulf War and was later followed by the VLQ-8A MCD. The MCD can be mounted on the 'manhole cover' where the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer is installed on the M1A2 model. Among the modifications to the US Marine Corps M1A1s is the provision for an MCD and some Marine Corps tanks were fitted with the system during the 2003 Iraq War and the subsequent stabilisation operation. A small number of army M2 Bradley vehicles were also fitted with MCDs from contingency stocks during operations in Iraq but the system was reported to be unpopular as the requirement for the gunner to track the incoming missile means he cannot use the vehicle's main armament.

The US began efforts to develop a hard-kill system in 1993 when the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded Boeing a contract to develop a Small, Low-cost Interceptor Device (Slid) to protect military vehicles and high value assets from missile and artillery threats. The objective was to combine a manoeuvrable hit-to-kill interceptor, a high-speed launcher, a passive threat warning sensor and a precision fire control system to defeat missiles, high explosive rounds, mortar rounds and artillery at a range of 250 metres from the vehicle. The project produced data that convinced the US Army that an active protection system could be incorporated into the service's Future Combat Systems family of medium armoured vehicles that are scheduled to enter service from 2010.

The service last year restructured the FCS project "to accelerate the effort to develop the short-range protection and conduct a spiral development to provide an AP [active protection] kit for fielding on the Stryker in the 2008 timeframe," according to a Request for Information issued in mid-January 2005. The request was issued by Boeing, as lead system integrator for the FCS project, and superseded an earlier RFI for 'Hard Kill Systems'. The solicitation noted that the FCS project team was unaware of any present concepts that address "the entire spectrum of threats at all ranges". Therefore the initial priority will be on "technologies designed to defeat very close range launch of small portable munitions that compliment a long-range system designed to defeat large platform launched threats". The new request is supported by earlier RFIs under the titles: 'Laser Warning', 'Precision Tracking Device', 'Multifunctional Countermeasures', 'Survivability Coordinator Processor' and 'Passive Threat Warner System'.

The Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (Tardec) is leading the army's active protection programme with technology development efforts provided by the Army Research Laboratory, the service's Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (Ardec) and industry.

United Defense is working with Northrop Grumman Space Technology and BAE Systems to develop the Active Defense System (previously known as the Integrated Army Active Protection System). The team is confident that the ADS will be deployed on most FCS manned ground vehicle variants and could be retrofitted on vehicles such as the M1, M2 Bradley and Stryker families. The system calls on passive electro-optical and active radar sensors, soft-kill countermeasures (infrared jammers and decoys) and hard-kill counter-munitions. After passive sensors warn of the launch of a hostile missile it activates electronic jamming or a decoy to direct the missile into the ground. If this fails, an interceptor rocket is launched to destroy the missile at a safe distance, about 30 metres, from the vehicle. In a series of tests competed in May 2003 a prototype installed on a Bradley defeated <<six categories of threat>> while the vehicle was both stationary and moving at more than 30 km/hour, according to United Defense. Ongoing work includes incorporation of the 'objective' active protection countermunition for hardened threats including large calibre long rod penetrators. In August 2004 United Defense was awarded an $18.4 million contract modification from Tardec to conduct further engineering, analysis and testing to counter kinetic rounds.

After evaluating several systems available on the global market General Dynamics selected the Trophy for further development to meet the requirement for a hard-kill system for the FCS and vehicles now in service. On 12 May 2005 General Dynamics announced that it had received a $ 282 million modification to its $ two billion contract for the engineering development and demonstration of the Manned Ground Vehicles family for the FCS program. The modification included funding for a 'spin out' programme to develop an Active Protection System for the Stryker.

The pressing need to protect vehicles from RPG attack in Iraq has given impetus to a number of projects. The Full Spectrum Active Protection (Fsap) Close-In Layered Shield (Fclas) is a hard-kill system being developed by Archangel Defense Systems (Adsi) under contract to Tardec. Adsi, located in Alexandria, Virginia, was formed solely to market and manufacture the Fclas and derivative systems. The countermeasure rounds are launched from existing M6 smoke grenade launchers, meaning that the system can be installed in vehicles such as the Bradley, Stryker, Humvee and Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles. On a Humvee configuration four smoke grenade launchers could be fitted to provide all-round protection.

Each Fclas projectile contains two miniature radars developed by Chang of California. The first searches for incoming warheads and if it determines the warhead is on a trajectory threatening the vehicle, it launches an Fclas projectile. The launch is timed so that it will intercept the threat warhead about four to five metres from the protected vehicle. The second radar detonates the projectile when it is alongside the attacking warhead to create a 'doughnut' ring of shards to destroy it. The entire response sequence theoretically takes place in less than a second.

United Defense has leveraged technology from the ADS programme to develop the Close-In Counter Measures (Cicm--pronounced 'sic 'em') system to defeat RPGs. The system is intended to offer 360[degrees] protection against RPGs without blowing up the incoming warheads and causing collateral damage. The Cicm successfully intercepted and destroyed incoming RPGs during tests at the army's Redstone Technical Test Center at Redstone Arsenal in 2004. The system uses a lightweight micro-bolometer infrared imaging camera, developed by BAE Systems Information & Electronic Warfare Systems, to detect an RPG launch and then cue a low-cost radar to automatically track it. Two 'bi-directional' multi-barrelled launchers mounted on either side of the radar fire a barrage of 55 pellets to intercept and destroy the weapon about ten metres from the vehicle. The system is able to fire two shots in each direction and then needs to be reloaded manually. As the production system is expected to weigh about 200 kg it could be fitted to vehicles as light as the Humvee.

Development of the Close-in Active Protection System (Ciaps) is continuing, with funding approved earlier this year to integrate the system on the Stryker. Work on this system is being done by Alabama-based Phase IV Systems (acquired by Technology Service Corporation in October 2004) in collaboration with the army's Redstone Technical Test Center. The Ciaps Phase 1 demonstration involved developmental testing on a Stryker. Phase 2 development during Fiscal Year 2006 will further evolve sensor and interceptor technologies and will culminate in a demonstration of a prototype mounted on a Humvee. This is planned to include live testing against stationary and moving vehicles. L-3 BT Fuze Products received a contract earlier this year to submit designs for a new fuzing system.

Chinese Puzzle

The China North Industries Corporation Type 98 MBT, which made its first public appearance in October 1999, and the Improved Type 98 that followed three years later remain the subjects of debate among intelligence analysts and other observers. The tanks incorporate the JD-3 IR jammer that is similar in concept to the Russian Shtora soft-kill system. However, of more interest is the use of a high-powered laser to attack the optics of threat weapon systems. It is believed that a LWR alerts the crew that a laser is targeting the Type 98 and the turret is traversed to face the threat. The self-defence laser is then directed at the guidance optics of the enemy weapon or vehicle.