Leonardo DRS to provide Trophy system for US Army’s Abrams tanks

The US Army has awarded a new contract, worth $193m, to Leonardo DRS for the delivery of active protection systems for its new M1A2 Abrams tanks in order to support immediate operational requirements of the service.

Under the deal, the company will deliver the Trophy active protection systems developed by Israel-based partner Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

Leonardo DRS will also be committed to providing the US Army with countermeasures and maintenance kits.

Leonardo DRS Land Systems Division vice-president and general manager Aaron Hankins said: “Leonardo DRS is proud to be a part of this important effort to bring life-saving technology to our warfighters, and we are actively investing to ensure Trophy provides a solid, American-made foundation for the army’s coming Vehicle Protection Suite programme.”

Currently in full-rate production, the Trophy missile-defeating technology offers combat-proven protection against a complete range of threats.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Land and Naval Division executive vice-president and head Moshe Elazar said: “The majority of Trophy components are manufactured by the American Defense Industry and we are excited by the opportunity to increase manufacturing in the US, including for Israeli systems, as the US acquires additional systems.”

The Trophy active protection system has been designed to protect the soldiers against anti-armour rocket and missile threats in addition to delivering performance, safety and life cycle affordability.

The technology can proactively detect, locate and neutralise anti-armour threats while significantly improve platform survivability and create threat awareness for manoeuvre forces.