JERUSALEM, Israel (BulgarianMilitary.com) – General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in cooperation with Elbit Systems and IMI’s team is moving forward with Phase II of their Iron Fist Light (IFL) Active Protection System (APS) following the announcement of a positive Army Requirements Oversight Council (AROC) decision, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

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According to the U.S and Israeli companies, the low size and weight, ease of integration, and versatile high-performance positions IFL as an ideal candidate for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Iron Fist Light uses independent optical sensors, tracking radar, launchers and countermeasure munitions to defeat threats at a safe distance from the defended combat vehicles. The system provides 360-degree protection coverage for close-range scenarios in both open terrain and urban environments. Fielding active protection capabilities has been identified as an urgent need by the US Army.

Elbit systems recently acquired IMI that has developed Iron Fist. The Iron Fist is in strong competition with a similar system, the Trophy developed by Rafael. This system protects Israel’s Merkava-4 MBT’s and the Israeli APC.

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Iron Fist is a hard-kill active protection system (APS) designed by Israel Military Industries (IMI), with a modular design allowing adaptation to a range of platforms ranging from light utility vehicles to heavy armored fighting vehicles.

The system has been successfully tested against a wide variety of threats including rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank guided missiles and tank-fired HEAT ammunition and kinetic energy penetrators.

It senses incoming threats via a fixed radar sensor developed by RADA Electronic Industries and an optional passive infrared detector developed by Elbit’s Elisra.

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When a threat is imminent, an explosive projectile interceptor is launched towards it. The interceptor explodes very near the threat, destroying or deflecting and destabilizing it without detonating its warhead. For this, only the blast effect of the explosive is used. The interceptor casing is made of combustible materials so no fragmentation is formed in the explosion, helping minimize collateral damage.

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