Active protection system

An active protection system detects and intercepts incoming projectiles before they strike a vehicle. It uses sensors and countermeasures to defeat threats during their approach.

Radar: A system that detects objects by transmitting radio waves and analyzing their echoes. Radar can detect and track an approaching projectile before it reaches the vehicle.
Trophy active protection system: An Israeli hard-kill active protection system developed by Rafael and installed on armored vehicles. Trophy is a widely fielded example designed to protect tanks from antitank threats.
Passive armor: Protective material that absorbs or deflects an attack without actively detecting or intercepting it. Unlike active protection, passive armor acts only when a projectile reaches the vehicle.
Rocket-propelled grenade: A shoulder-fired weapon that launches a rocket-propelled explosive projectile, commonly with an antitank warhead. RPGs are among the close-range threats active protection systems are designed to intercept.
Loitering munition: An unmanned weapon that can remain near a target area before attacking it. Small, slow, or diving munitions test detection and interception capabilities designed around faster threats.
Infrared sensor: A device that detects infrared radiation to measure heat or form images. Infrared sensors can identify the hot exhaust of an incoming rocket or missile.
Iron Fist active protection system: An Israeli active protection system developed by Israel Military Industries for armored vehicles. Iron Fist provides another hard-kill design for defeating incoming projectiles.
Reactive armor: Vehicle armor that uses an explosive or other energetic response to disrupt a penetrating attack. Reactive armor counters a hit at the vehicle surface rather than intercepting the threat in flight.
Anti-tank guided missile: A guided missile designed to destroy armored vehicles using an antitank warhead. These missiles challenge active protection systems with guided flight and varied attack profiles.
Directed-energy weapon: A weapon that delivers energy, such as a laser or microwave beam, to damage or disrupt a target. Directed energy could offer repeated engagements without carrying a separate interceptor for every threat.

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