King of the battlefield again: UK tanks could get anti-missile system that deflects rockets with swarm of bullets - giving vehicles the upper hand once more
- British tanks could be fitted with an Israeli-made anti-missile system that deflects incoming projectiles
- Trophy anti-missile system deflects incoming projectiles by firing thousands of tiny bullets at them
- Israeli-made Active Protection System is designed to destroy incoming projectiles before hitting the tank
- Security experts believe anti-missile systems will swing the battlefield advantage back in favour of tanks Britain's new fleet of tanks could be fitted with an Israeli-made anti-missile system that deflects incoming projectiles by firing thousands of tiny bullets at them, the Ministry of Defence has announced.
Trials of the Trophy anti-missile system are due to start soon as the British Army reduces its tank fleet from 227 but upgrades its heavy armour regiments to produce 148 Challenger 3 tanks.
The Israeli-developed Active Protection System (APS) is designed to recognise incoming enemy RPGs, guided weapons and other munitions - and destroy them before they hit the tank.
Trophy, which was made by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, is the only fully-integrated, combat-tested APS in the world - and has been installed on Israel's Merkava tanks since the country's 2006 Lebanon War against Hezbollah. The US Army has also fitted the system to their Abrams tanks.
The system is thought to cost around £500,000 per vehicle, but no details have been given regarding how many Challenger 3s will be fitted with Trophy. MailOnline has contacted the MoD for further information.
Security experts believe anti-missile systems such as Trophy will swing the battlefield advantage back in favour of tanks, and that NATO should be developing APS alongside anti-tank weapons in case of a Russian armour-heavy attack in Europe similar to its invasion of Ukraine in 2014.
But any new pronouncements by the MoD are likely to be met with scepticism after it emerged that new light Army tanks that have so far cost the taxypayer £3.2billion have been withdrawn for a second time after more troops reported suffering hearing loss during trials.
In a statement, Colonel Will Waugh, director of the UK's Armour Main Battle Tank Programme, said: 'This technology, already battle proven with our international allies and partners, will deliver a step change in protection against guided and unguided anti-tank weapons: a threat that continues to proliferate around the world and grow in lethality. This marks another step forward in delivering a modernised main battle tank able to defeat any threat it might meet in the future.'
The Israeli-developed Active Protection System (APS) is designed to recognise incoming enemy RPGs, guided weapons and other munitions - and destroy them before they hit the tank
The Trophy system uses small phased-array radars that detect incoming anti-tank missiles, calculates when to fire back and fires bullets to block the flight path of the incoming projectile, or cause the warhead to function early
The Trophy system uses small phased-array radars that detect incoming anti-tank missiles, calculates when to fire back and fires bullets to block the flight path of the incoming projectile, or cause the warhead to function early
If linked to the wider battle-management system, the hostile firing location will appear on screens in other tanks to allow supporting vehicles to fire on the enemy position
Minstry of Defence handout photo of a Challenger 3 main battle tankThe Trophy system uses small phased-array radars that detect incoming anti-tank missiles, calculates when to fire back and fires bullets to block the flight path of the incoming projectile, or cause the warhead to function early.
If linked to the wider battle-management system, the hostile firing location will appear on screens in other tanks to allow supporting vehicles to fire on the enemy position.
The British Army plans to use digital technology to link units and vehicles together to allow communication of threats to be passed to the most appropriate weapon system, though the 'digital backbone' and countermeasure element is not part of the MoD's Trophy trial.
Israeli forces began on Trophy in the early 2000s, but accelerated efforts to develop APS after the loss of several Merkava tanks in the 34-day military conflict in Lebanon, Northern Israel and the Golan Heights in 2006.
The anti-missile system was successfully deployed during the 2014 Gaza War against Hamas, the Islamist militant group running the strip. On July 14 that year, fighters filmed themselves firing Russian-made man-portable Kornet anti-tank missiles at Israeli vehicles defeated by the Trophy system.
A similar film shot 10 days later shows a Hamas attack using RPG-29 munitions. However, the Trophy system functioned again, defeating the incoming round and protecting the vehicle and crew.
David Farmer, Team Leader for the Challenger 3 delivery team at Defence, Equipment & Support, the procurement arm of the MoD, said: 'I am delighted to welcome Rafael to our cohort of industry delivery partners who are working together to bring Challenger 3 to life.
'This is a significant programme for Defence, and the British Army and represents a huge shift in the modernisation of our land forces. The pioneering new technology that we are planning to use will allow us to deliver an immense warfighting capability.'
The anti-missile system was successfully deployed during the 2014 Gaza War against Hamas, the Islamist militant group that runs Gaza. On July 24, Hamas militants fired RPG-29 munitions at Israeli tanks equipped with Trophy
However, the Trophy system functioned again, defeating the incoming round and protecting the vehicle and crew
Brigadier General Michael Lurie, head of Rafael's land maneuverability systems directorate, said: 'Trophy APS has saved the lives of numerous soldiers and has been instrumental in protecting assets on the battlefield and enabling tank crews to maneuver safely under anti-tank fire and perform their missions safely and fully.
'This system has changed the rules of the game in the armored warfare arena, and the UK's decision to choose Trophy for the protection of its crews, ushers in a new era for its armored forces as well. We are thankful to our UK partners for joining other nations and tier-1 armored corps who have put their trust in Rafael's Trophy APS.'
It follows reports that new light Army tanks that have so far cost £3.2billion have been withdrawn for a second time after more troops reported suffering hearing loss during trials.
All trials involving the Ajax armoured vehicle were paused in mid-June on 'health and safety grounds' amid concerns that mitigation measures put in place to protect soldiers were not sufficient.
Ministers believe senior officers may have hidden the extent of the problem with Ajax, to prevent it being axed as part of this year's integrated review of Britain's defence and foreign policy.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who is currently self-isolating after the head of the Army tested positive for coronavirus, is said to be 'distinctly unhappy' with the handling of the programme. The Times reported that the Cabinet minister has appointed a team to review it and find out what the army has kept 'hidden' from politicians because of concerns about cuts.
A leaked internal report claimed the machine were unable to travel safely faster than 20 miles per hour - half the 40mph top speed, and crew members were suffering noises so loud that it made them feel sick.
The government is 'very concerned' about noises and vibrations in new Army tanks that make them practically inoperable. Pictured: The new Ajax Army tank ordered by the Ministry of Defence
A leaked internal report claimed the machine were unable to travel safely faster than 20 miles per hour - half the 40mph top speed, and crew members were suffering noises so loud that it made them feel sick
A military source told the newspaper: 'We had to pause it on health and safety grounds as people reported hearing loss again. The ear defenders were not rigorous enough.'
Labour MP Kevan Jones called the decision to halt the trials 'another example of chronic mismanagement within the MoD and its shaky procurement apparatus' and said it would further delay the programme and place at risk the Army's ambition to establish new strike brigades.
In March, the Government revealed cuts to the Armed Forces which include reducing the British Army by 10,000 by 2025. Its Command Paper signals a significant shift in the UK's approach to defence, with ministers investing billions of pounds in the technology of the future while retiring some of the nation's ageing aircraft and armoured vehicles, including the first tranche of Typhoon fighter jets by 2025.
The RAF will lose a total of 114 manned aircraft as a slew of fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters will be phased out. But at least £6.6billion will be spent on research and development over the next four years to come up with 'next generation capabilities' which will include 'directed energy weapons and swarming drones'.
More than £2billion will be invested over the next four years in the Future Combat Air System which is expected to deliver a mix of manned, unmanned and autonomous aircraft.
Reacting to the announcement, two former British military chiefs today warned China and Russia will not be worried by the UK's new defence shake-up as they said troop cuts will mean the Armed Forces are 'less able to deploy to conflicts at scale'.
In March, the Government revealed cuts to the Armed Forces which include reducing the British Army by 10,000 by 2025. The RAF will lose a total of 114 manned aircraft as a slew of fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters will be phased out. But at least £6.6billion will be spent on research and development over the next four years to come up with 'next generation capabilities' which will include 'directed energy weapons and swarming drones'
Lord Richards and Lord Houghton, who both served as chief of the defence staff in the 2010s, expressed concerns about the Government's modernisation plans and wider defence and security strategy.
Lord Houghton said reductions to conventional forces will harm the UK's ability to respond to potential major conflicts. He said: 'We appear to be reducing down to a sort of one-shot, quite long notice, not long sustainment set of armed forces. You have got to be sort of specific to contexts and scenarios to say could we do that, couldn't we do that.
'But I think it is one of the things that it looks like the result of this review in terms of the numbers that have been reduced in terms of straightforward platforms and boots on ground, that we are less able to deploy to conflicts at scale.'
Lord Richards warned 'there is a gap in the middle where we are vulnerable' between cutting conventional forces now and the future delivery of more modern capabilities.
He said a lack of conventional forces could become a 'real problem', telling the committee: 'In that respect we are going to take a risk I think, particularly in the next 10 years, in the mid-20s I see a significant dip in conventional capability before the new capabilities have been properly grown.
'And in that period, an adventurous Russia - I am not suggesting it will try to seize Paris or Berlin - but might just be tempted to cause trouble by seizing a chunk of Estonia or one of the other Baltic states. That becomes a real problem for us.'
On the issue of reduced aircraft numbers, Lord Richards added: 'As far as the air is concerned, obviously the reduction in planned numbers of aircraft is worrying. The attrition rate of aircraft in war, proper war, high intensity conflict, can be considerable.'
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