Active Protection System

Definition/Scope: An active protection system (APS) protects a tank or other armoured fighting vehicle from incoming fire before it hits the vehicle's armor. There are two general categories: soft kill systems, which use jamming or decoys to confuse a missile's guidance system, and hard kill systems, which attempt to detect and destroy incoming projectiles. Some other examples are: soft-kill; strobe lights for land vehicles used to masquerade as guidance beacons, hard-kill; a radar senses an incoming round and it launches a counter projectile in an attempt to damage or destroy the incoming round. Examples would be the TROPHY from Israel or the Quick kill from the US. Some examples for aircraft are the ECM, flares or chaff.

Used For:

Protection WFF

Acronym:

APS

Broader Terms:

Bradley Fighting Vehicle
Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Multi-Function Radio Frequency System
Redstone Technical Test Center
survivability
U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center

Narrower Terms:

antitank missile
antitank rocket
countermeasures
Full Spectrum Active Protection
Full Spectrum Active Protection Close-In Shield
Full Spectrum Active Protection System
Integrated Army Active Protection System
Iron Fist Active Protection System
protection
RPG launcher
RPG rocket

Related Terms:

Active Denial System 2
Active Denial Technology
AEGIS
barrier
Developmental Test Command
Full Spectrum Active Protection
Integrated Army Active Protection System
Manned Ground Vehicle
Multi-Function Radio Frequency System
Quick Kill Active Protection System
Trophy Active Defense System