The Israel Ministry of Defense and the German Federal Ministry of Defense have completed the first series of successful live fire tests of the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) on German soil.
By Erin Viner
A series of interception tests of the Trophy system integrated on the German Leopard 2 main battle tank were completed successfully, the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMoD) Spokesperson’s Office announced in a statement obtained by TV7.
Jerusalem signed a pact this past February to supply its Trophy system to Berlin for integration with the Leopard. The agreement was led by the IMoD Directorate of Defense R&D and Israeli technology corporations Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
Trophy, known as Ma’alit Ruach or “Windbreaker” in Hebrew, is considered among the world’s most effective military APS in the world, capable of protecting armored vehicles from a range of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) charges. The combat-proven mechanism has been operational in the IDF for many years and is integrated in the Merkava (“Chariot”) Mark IV battle tank. Trophy’s capabilities have been demonstrated in numerous military operations and is credited with saving the lives of countless IDF soldiers.
The successful test in Germany was conducted in cooperation with Rafael and the Munich-based Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG (KMW) defense company that is the developer and manufacturer of the Leopard 2.
The exercise demonstrated Trophy’s integration to the tank and the capabilities of the APS active protection system “well above 90% threat interception success rate, as well as providing accurate fire source location,” said the IMoD statement,
“The advancement achieved by our industries in cooperation with our German friends and partners will further strengthen the capabilities of both our defense establishments,” said Defense Minister Benny Gantz, while vowing that Israel “will continue to work at the forefront of tech capabilities, prepare for every operational scenario, and deepen our relations with partners around the world.”