UK Signs £20 Million Trophy APS Contract for Challenger 3
The UK Ministry of Defense has awarded a £20 million ($26 million) contract to secure the hardware for the next phase of testing of the Trophy Active Protection System set to be mounted on Britain’s upgraded Challenger 3 tanks. The contract was awarded through the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment & Support organisation.
The Trophy Active Protection System (APS), developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, will be tested and integrated with Challenger 3 to provide enhanced protection against rocket and missile threats, while simultaneously finding the origin of the hostile fire for immediate response. The system can locate an incoming rocket or missile in under a second, engaging and destroying it with its own munition.
The system has completed three weeks of assessment phase trials on the Challenger 3 representative system with a total 25 shots, including live intercept shots. DE&S state that the new contract “will secure a number of trophy systems and counter measures and test equipment required for the qualification and integration activity planned for the upcoming demonstration phase.”
“This contract will be a key step towards ensuring our Challenger 3 tanks are equipped with the most advanced protection systems available,” said Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, “their ability to identify incoming hostile fire and neutralise it in less than a second demonstrates the UK’s ability to consistently acquire the most advance battlefield equipment.”
The Challenger 3 is expected to enter service in 2027 and its development and manufactured is being led by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL). Trophy is considered a long lead time component of Challenger 3 and the latest contract will allow the Demonstration Phase to start in 2024.
David Tomlin, APS lead for the Land Equipment Operating Centre at DE&S, said: “Assessment Phase Trials of the APS has completed, and we now have confidence to move forward to the next phase. Placing this contract will allow the Demonstration Phase to start in 2024 where the APS system will be qualified and integrated onto the CR3 tank. Securing these trophy long-lead items is another step forward in securing a world class protection system for our soldiers on the front line.” The Demonstration Phase testing for Challenger 3’s Trophy integration will be delivered at Rafael’s facility in Israel, and in UK test ranges.