One of the first significant modernization programs the U.S. Army has undertaken is upgrading a number of brigades of M1A2 main battle tanks with an APS capability to counter increasingly lethal anti-armor threats on the battlefield. But as smaller and more modern vehicles, like the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle, take shape – smaller and yet more comprehensive Vehicle Protection System (VPS) solutions will be required to shield them from an even wider array of threats. Enter the Trophy Vehicle Protection System (VPS). Leonardo DRS and Rafael have been qualifying this lighter-weight, yet equally effective, version of Trophy for lighter armored vehicles. A highly mature APS already chosen by the U.S. Army for fielding is the Trophy system. Developed by the Israeli firm Rafael, Trophy is offered in the United States by Leonardo DRS.
“Trophy VPS is the logical next step in APS for smaller combat vehicles that require hard-kill threat defeat but are weight and space constrained,” said Aaron Hankins, senior vice president and general manager of the Leonardo DRS Land Systems business unit. “The system is 40% lighter than current systems but retains Trophy’s proven defeat performance. Most importantly, it provides the mature foundation for a broader, more holistic approach to vehicle protection,” he said.
Additionally, other Leonardo DRS protection technologies enabled by Trophy VPS add further layers of security for the vehicle and crew.
Target Detection – Leonardo DRS technology detects enemy weapons prior to a hostile fire event. Using highly advanced optical technology, targets are located and identified by their optical signature. The technology senses a wide variety of threat weapons, whether hidden in complex urban landscapes or open terrain.
Hostile Fire Detection – Multi-spectral sensors employing modern detection hardware and algorithms give users the ability to quickly identify the type and location of hostile fire and immediately react to protect the platform and engage the threat. In parallel, this threat data is automatically passed through the battle management network to alert friendly forces to the situation in near real-time.
Leonardo DRS, formerly DRS Technologies, Inc., is a US-based defense contractor. Previously traded on the NYSE, the company was purchased by the Italian firm Finmeccanica (now Leonardo S.p.A.) in October 2008. Diagnostic/Retrieval Systems, Inc (DRS) was founded in 1968 by Leonard Newman and David Gross, two engineers working for Loral Corporation. When Loral chose to pursue other technology, Newman and Gross founded DRS to continue their research, which ultimately led to development of the AN/SQR-17 passive submarine detection system, a product still used today.
