Active Protection Systems are advanced defense technologies developed to protect modern armored vehicles from anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled threats. Unlike traditional armor, these systems aim to neutralize threats before they even reach the vehicle. As anti-tank weapons have become more widespread and sophisticated, relying solely on thicker armor has proven insufficient. Active Protection Systems have therefore transformed battlefield survivability by adding a proactive defensive layer. Today, main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers equipped with these systems achieve significantly higher survival rates in high-threat environments.

From a technical perspective, Active Protection Systems operate through three main stages: detection, tracking, and neutralization. First, radar and infrared sensors detect an incoming projectile within milliseconds. The onboard computer then calculates the threat’s speed, trajectory, and potential impact point. If the system confirms a real threat, it activates one of two countermeasure methods. In a “soft-kill” approach, smoke grenades, laser jamming, or electronic countermeasures are deployed to confuse or misguide the missile. In a “hard-kill” system, a counter-projectile is launched to physically destroy the incoming threat mid-air. This entire process occurs in fractions of a second, often without the crew even realizing an interception has taken place. Modern Active Protection Systems can provide 360-degree coverage and engage multiple threats simultaneously, turning armored vehicles into intelligent, self-defending combat platforms.