[e_castillo]

However there is some stuff like the Arena system that even we do not have a substitute for.

Defending against top down attack has been around for years I don't know why the Russian Arena system would make any claims for being able to do something that everyone else has thought of already. Unless of course it's their marketing department sales pitch!

Arena can't defend against this:
Click here for Lockheed Martin info
Click here for Lockheed Martin info

[spetznaz]

Now that is funny. You are saying that the capability of the Russian Arena system is basically nothing but a sales pitch ....but then why are we trying to buy the system for our M1A2 Abrams? If it was nothing but a sales pitch then we would not even bother to enhance our tanks with it, would we? Unless of course we just want to spend money on nothing that is sheer sales pitch.

And as for the Javelin i have to agree it is one of the premier Anti-Tank missile in the world today that is man portable (and in my book it is the premier). Its effectiveness is further compunded by the fact that it has a lofted trajectory (meaning it will hit the tank at its most vulnerable point ...the top) and it also packs a tandem warhead (just in case we face advanced tanks the precursor warhead will take out the Explosive Reactive Armor, while the second warhead will blow up the tank). Hence it is a very good tank killer, and to be honest with you overkill since all of the nations we face do not even have MBTs with ERA packs. However i love overkill!

However what you should know is that the Arena system was developed as a defence for the US Javelin and the Israeli Gill/Spike Anti-Armor system (which uses the same principle). Due to the fact even 2nd generation ERA packs could not defend against the Javelin and Gill the Arena was developed that works as follows.

It detects and tracks the missile, and once the missile gets withing range projectiles are fired at the missile from locations in the side of the tank (there are several at varius locations for an all round protection) and they meet the incoming warhead and blow it up before it can get close to the tank. This can be done repeatedly (until the tank can acquire the threat). And although this was specifically designed for the Javelin and Gill systems it has been shown to even work for small projectiles like grenades.

And by the way there is no similar system in the world as of yet. Before this the greatest development was the 2 nd generation Chobham armor plus ERA packs. The Arena system is the latest deployed system in the world, and due to its effectiveness we have been trying to buy it for our tanks.

Actually there is another system developed in Britain that utilizes a strong electric current to stop HEAT rounds from penetrating into the inside of the tank. In essence an internal 'force field' in a way. But this has not yet been deployed.

Anyways the Arena was developed as an answer to the Javelin missile, which is why i find it funny you sent me a link to the Javelin.