Back to news

December 14, 2018 | International, Land, C4ISR

US Army seeking APS technology for Bradley vehicles

Ashley Roque, Washington, DC - Jane's Defence Weekly

Once again the US army is looking for new active protection systems (APSs) to equip on its family of M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Whether this is a positive or negative for IMI Systems' Iron Fist remains unclear.

On 11 December, the service issued a draft request for proposal in the form of a "market survey" for APSs with a technology readiness level (TRL) 6.

"This APS shall have been proven and characterised on the Bradley Family of Vehicles [FOV]," the service wrote in a short notice. "This will be accomplished through the procurement of a B-Kit, consisting of the system and countermeasures."

Industry has until 18 December to respond.

Recently, the service has been evaluating three APSs: Rafael's Trophy on the Abrams main battle tank (MBT), IMI Systems' Iron Fist on the M2 Bradley, and Artis' Iron Curtain on the Stryker infantry combat vehicle.

In June Leonardo DRS (Rafael's US-based partner) was awarded USD193 million to integrate the capability on Abrams MBTs. Artis' Iron Curtain system, however, was cut due to a lack of maturity.

IMI Systems' Iron Fist is now uncertain, and the company and an army spokeswoman did not immediately respond to Jane's request for information.

Colonel Glenn Dean, project manager for Stryker Brigade Combat Team and APS acquisition, told reporters in August that IMI's Iron Fist technology was still participating in Phase I live-fire and automotive characterisation testing due to an eight-month delay caused by funding gaps, inclement weather, and integration challenges. At the time, he noted that the findings would be turned over to the Army Requirements Oversight Council in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 for a decision on how to proceed.

He also explained that the M2 Bradley is a "very difficult platform to install on".

https://www.janes.com/article/85180/us-army-seeking-aps-technology-for-bradley-vehicles

On the same subject

  • Maiden flight of first EMD Red Hawk jet slated for September 2021

    August 19, 2020 | International, Aerospace

    Maiden flight of first EMD Red Hawk jet slated for September 2021

    by Gareth Jennings The US Air Force (USAF) has slated September 2021 for the maiden flight of the first of five engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft, Janes has learned. With production of the EMD aircraft set to shortly begin at Boeing's St Louis facility in Missouri and Saab's Linköping facility in Sweden, a USAF official told Janes on 18 August that the hitherto undisclosed date for the first EMD flight has now been set. “Saab has released all EMD aircraft ‘build-to-packages' to support build and manufacturing preparation. The EMD [aft] fuselages (five in total) are currently planned for build at Saab's factory in Sweden with delivery [to St Louis] no later than April 2021. Production is expected to begin with jig load [this] August at Boeing in St Louis. Boeing currently plans for assembly to be complete in June 2021, with the first EMD flight expected in September 2021,” the USAF said. Prior to this disclosure, both Boeing and Saab had declined to comment on the timetable for the first EMD flight, noting only that “this is very sensitive information for the USAF”. With two production-representative jets (PRJs) currently flying, the present EMD phase of the contract covers the five further aircraft and seven simulators. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/maiden-flight-of-first-emd-red-hawk-jet-slated-for-september-2021

  • Indian National Pleads Guilty to $37 Million Cryptocurrency Theft Scheme

    May 28, 2024 | International, Land

    Indian National Pleads Guilty to $37 Million Cryptocurrency Theft Scheme

    Indian national pleads guilty to stealing over $37M through fake Coinbase website.

  • Here’s how the US Army’s multidomain task force is contributing to AUKUS

    May 19, 2024 | International, Land

    Here’s how the US Army’s multidomain task force is contributing to AUKUS

    The 3rd Multidomain Task Force is collaborating with Australia and the U.K. to develop technology like artificial intelligence and machine learning.

All news