SANTA CLARA, Calif. – BAE Systems has demonstrated the capability to defeat kinetic energy threats under contract to the U.S. Army’s Tank and Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) survivability program, achieving another significant milestone in the Integrated Army Active Protection System (IAAPS) program.

In end-to-end live fire testing, IAAPS demonstrated defeat of multiple near-simultaneous close-in rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), as well as tank-fired high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), tank-fired fragmentation and mortar rounds. Many of these tests were conducted on-the-move at speeds over 40 kph.

During the current successive testing over a two-week period, IAAPS consistently delivered an interceptor within the required kill radius to defeat kinetic energy (KE) threats. These tests were conducted during the most heavily instrumented active protection system testing to date. Additionally, the tests demonstrated that a KE round was significantly affected by the interim interceptor warhead, indicating future capability may be possible sooner than expected.

These tests further expand the capabilities proven by the most thoroughly tested U.S. active protection system (APS).

“These achievements have provided ground truth by validating full-spectrum APS modeling and simulation, and demonstrating measurable progress toward objective system performance for lightweight protection of ground combat vehicles,” said Mark Middione, BAE Systems’ IAAPS program manager.

Team members from TARDEC, BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman, performed the stressing series of live fire tests against KE threats at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, with staff from TARDEC, the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in attendance.

Progressing from early successes against RPGs and ATGMs three and a half years ago, to the latest series of tank fired threat defeats, this leading research on the IAAPS Program has resulted in a full spectrum system that offers the warfighter early fielding of a low-weight alternative to heavy armor.

Source: BAE Systems

BAE Systems
21.02.2006