UK Launches Non-Explosive Tank Trap Competition
The British Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has issued an RFI seeking ‘novel approaches to stopping or impeding tanks and other heavy armoured vehicles.’ DASA is seeking non-conventional anti-tank weapons which can be used with minimal collateral damage.
DASA, a British Government initiative, is open to concepts ranging from physical barriers to electromagnetic countermeasures. The RFI offered funding of up to £1 million (or $1.3 million) for phase one of the development programme. The RFI is looking for proof of concept solutions with additional funding available for successful deployable systems.
The RFI breaks down to two approaches: ‘physical’ and ‘invisible’ barriers. These are expected to do the following:
‘Disrupt – break up an enemy, reducing their tempo
Turn – divert an enemy towards ground of our own choosing
Fix – slow an attacker within a specified area
Block – stop an attacker along a specific avenue of approach’
Current UK Ministry of Defence anti-tank solutions are described as ‘not ideal’ because of their reliance on explosives. These explosive systems such as anti-tank mines pose a significant danger to local non-combatants. Non conventional conflicts are also a potential deployment for successful systems with recent vehicle-borne terror attacks highlighted as a potential target for new, non-kinetic solutions.
‘The primary focus of this competition is defence, but we are also interested in technologies that have wider security applications. Technologies that address a similar capability requirement within the civil sector, such as preventing vehicle-related terrorist attacks, will be considered if they are demonstrated to be effective against military class vehicles and capable of being deployed in a wide range of operational environments related to defence.’
DASA anticipate the funding of up to 10 projects each up to £1 million during phase one of the competition. The RFI notice was posted on the 28th September, and interested parties have until 8 November to submit.