Missile Defense on Israelis Tanks

Israel has been at the forefront of tank defense warfare. A new evolution in defense parameters for tanks? I need to investigate further as to the mobility of this weapon system. As the Trophy system may require its own mobile launcher and radar. Which in turn would make it vulnerable to Vbieds and anything else that flies and goes boom .... lakotahope

Israel says tanks to get new anti-missile system

Israel has been searching for a new defence against missiles after Hezbollah militants during the Second Lebanon War scored a number of damaging strikes against the Merkavas, considered one of the strongest tanks in the world.

by Staff Writers
Jerusalem (AFP) Aug 7, 2009
The Israeli army will begin equipping its tanks with a new anti-missile system, following stinging losses due to missiles fired by Hezbollah militants in the 2006 Lebanon war, officials said.

The Trophy system uses radar to track incoming missiles and fires a projectile to explode the missiles before they reach their target, a military official said.

Tests of the system were successful and it will be installed on the latest generation Merkava IV tanks.

According the private television station Channel 10 the system is expensive, costing around 350,000 dollars (245,000 euros) per unit.

Israel has been searching for a new defence against missiles after Hezbollah militants during the Second Lebanon War scored a number of damaging strikes against the Merkavas, considered one of the strongest tanks in the world.

Israel media have reported that of 25 modern guided missiles fired by Hezbollah militants, a quarter penetrated the tank's formidable armour and caused death or injuries among crew members.