Posted on 07/25/2014 3:26:10 AM PDT by Star Traveler
JERUSALEM–At least five times in the past week in Gaza, Israeli tanks equipped with a revolutionary defense system have deflected anti-tank missiles fired at them by Hamas fighters, according to the Israeli army.
The success of the Windbreaker system, as it is called in Israel, augments on the ground the technological achievement in the air of the Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system which Israel credits with neutralizing the intensive rocketing from Gaza of the past two weeks.
The Windbreaker system (known abroad as Trophy), which became operational in 2009, has since been successfully tested by live fire twice when Israeli tank patrols on the periphery of Gaza were fired on two years ago. The current Gaza campaign is the first time the system is being tested in a face-to-face war against advanced Russian anti-tank rockets. In the 2006 Lebanon War against Hezbollah, missiles penetrated 22 Israeli tanks, destroying several.
Installed on Israel’s most-advanced tank, the Merkava 1V, the system’s sensors instantly identify a rocket or RPG heading toward it. Without intervention of the crew, the system fires pellets that detonate the rocket at a safe distance from the tank. It also informs the crew of the location from which the incoming rocket was launched, permitting counter-fire.
(Excerpt) Read more at freebeacon.com ...
Proactive armor.
Hamas will soon have their RPG gunners preparing to fire while in the middle of a group of women & children, with lots of video cameras rolling to capture the Israeli “claymores” mowing down “innocent non-combatants”.
Our intelligence new the location of more tunnels and did not share the info with Israel. If I was Israel I would wait before I gave the MuslimBrohood in the current administration any help. Especially if this current administration could be seen as an enemy of Israel.
Actually, Trophy and the competing Israeli system are supposed to be relatively infantry safe, unlike earlier Soviet attempts at the concept like Drozd.
Okay, found a video about it. It’s basically a point defense shotgun system. Very low probability of injury to surrounding infantry.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rA5fD9ggRRE
The Russian Drozd system didn’t do all that well in Afghanistan and Chechnya. The Shtora IR jammer did better, but obviously doesn’t work against TOW type, radar guided or unguided missiles. Their latest stab at it is the Arena protection system, but it hasn’t been in combat yet that I know of.
Probably never. These idiots who still wipe their butts with their bare hand, are forever stuck in the 8th Century, when most everyone lived like rats.
Ohhhh, accurate and PC as well. I like that.
Would Drozd not living up to expectations lead to the employment of ARENA instead maybe? Inquiring minds want to know.
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Expect some RPG-30s to find its way into the region soon. It fires a smaller projectile a fraction of a second ahead of the main to clear a path for the warhead.
It’s always a continuing escalation with weapons and defense against them. On the one side am improvement is made, then on the other side, an adjustment is made or something is improved for defense ... and so it goes indefinitely ...
What did the Army say? NO GO. It was "too successful" and indiscriminate. It set of EVERYTHING that was not command detonated. How many troops did we lose on routes we flew? Zero to VBIDs/IEDs. How many did we lose to KIA/WIA when our program shut down? Dozens.
I'd still like to find the SOB that came up with that decision.
True, because the Israelis have a counter for the RPG-30 style weapons and are working on one for kinetic energy types. Wherever there is a significant conflict in the world, you can believe players are interested in field testing their tactics and systems.
The odds are that they have already tried with SA-7s and early SA18s that just dont work, or the plane leaves the target envelope before the missile falls out of the sky. I wouldn't doubt if there has been one or two attempts. Most likely, the missle never lit off....which is endemic in Soviet-era MANPADS...that is why their armed forces volley fired them in the dozens...hoping one would hit.
And you know what?
I bet they’d have no qualms using this system “domestically”.
I think in fielding weapon systems the viewpoint of the guys in field should have enormous weight, and political and public relations considerations almost zero.
Imagine if MSNBC had been covering flame throwers in Okinawa or Iwo Jima. They’d have a coronary. Hell, let the Japs know what’s coming, they’d have a whole lot less piss and vinegar.
M48(Patton), A5E3 model.
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