'Trophy' system faces new competitor: Leonardo introduces active protection system for tanks, APCs
The "MIPS" was successfully tested in July at the British Ministry of Defense's range
Eyal Boguslavsky
| 30/09/2021
Photo: British Army
Italian company Leonardo announced during the DSEI 2021 exhibition, which was held in London in mid-September, that it successfully demonstrated a new system, called MIPS (Modular Integrated Protection System), to protect vehicles such as tanks and armored personnel carriers from incoming missiles.
The system, which was developed by a group of U.K.-based companies headed by Leonardo that includes Lockheed Martin UK and Rheinmetall BAE Land systems, was tested in July at the British Ministry of Defense's range. The experiment was part of the Icarus project, which aims to find a solution to the rapidly evolving threat of new RPGs and guided anti-tank weapons, according to the company.
According to Leonardo, "this trial provided a comprehensive test of the ability of the MIPS sense, control and reaction sequence to respond appropriately to threats within extremely short timeframes." MIPS has an open-system architecture that allows for modular integration of affordable and best-of-breed sensors and countermeasures, according to Leonardo. Some of these sensors offer "soft" protection that can detect a threat early and attempt to disrupt, decoy or spoof the threat. Other sensors are designed to physically intercept and defeat the incoming missile, the company said.
Following the successful initial demonstration, the program has been extended and the scope widened through contract amendments in order to examine MIPS' potential to deliver counter-drone and counter-intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance solutions, according to the company.
The "MIPS" was successfully tested in July at the British Ministry of Defense's range
Photo: British Army
Italian company Leonardo announced during the DSEI 2021 exhibition, which was held in London in mid-September, that it successfully demonstrated a new system, called MIPS (Modular Integrated Protection System), to protect vehicles such as tanks and armored personnel carriers from incoming missiles.
The system, which was developed by a group of U.K.-based companies headed by Leonardo that includes Lockheed Martin UK and Rheinmetall BAE Land systems, was tested in July at the British Ministry of Defense's range. The experiment was part of the Icarus project, which aims to find a solution to the rapidly evolving threat of new RPGs and guided anti-tank weapons, according to the company.
According to Leonardo, "this trial provided a comprehensive test of the ability of the MIPS sense, control and reaction sequence to respond appropriately to threats within extremely short timeframes." MIPS has an open-system architecture that allows for modular integration of affordable and best-of-breed sensors and countermeasures, according to Leonardo. Some of these sensors offer "soft" protection that can detect a threat early and attempt to disrupt, decoy or spoof the threat. Other sensors are designed to physically intercept and defeat the incoming missile, the company said.
Following the successful initial demonstration, the program has been extended and the scope widened through contract amendments in order to examine MIPS' potential to deliver counter-drone and counter-intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance solutions, according to the company.
