Rafael Armament Development Authority announces the release of the M-TAPS – Multi-Threat Armor Protection System – a new generation add-on armor technology for combat vehicles. The recently developed M-TAPS is the newest generation hybrid (reactive / passive) add-on armor designed to defeat a variety of modern threats in the combat arena. The M-TAPS is a modular system that can be easily fitted onto any wheeled or tracked vehicle or MBT.
The system, when installed on a combat vehicle, is able to defeat Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFP), high speed fragments from artillery bombs (simulated by FSPs) and Armor Piercing (AP) projectiles from heavy machine guns.
The M-TAPS technology is an upgrade of Rafael's combat proven, Insensitive Reactive Armor system that has been successfully applied to the US Bradleys, IDF vehicles and a variety of NATO APCs.
The system has been intensively tested at Rafael's facilities and by the IDF and has demonstrated its ability to defeat powerful EFPs and RPGs, as well as other threats.
"We anticipate the successful integration of M-TAPS in the MRAP II and MPV programs as it is the ideal solution against RPGs and EFPs, which make up the majority of threats to troop vehicles in Iraq, Afghanistan and in other current conflicts" says Mr. Nehemia Shachar, Head of the Protection Systems Sector of the Ordnance and Protection Division at Rafael.
General Dynamics Awarded $108 M for Production of Reactive Armor for Bradley Fighting Vehicle
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Charlotte NC (SPX) Aug 22 – General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products has been awarded a $107.7 million contract option from the U.S. Army TACOM-Picatinny (Picatinny, N.J.) for reactive armor production for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. This option is part of a July 2006 contract and brings the total value to $237 million.
The reactive armor package, designed specifically for the U.S. Army Bradley Fighting Vehicle, saves lives and prevents crippling damage to combat vehicles in Iraq. Units that have the armor tiles fastened to their exterior, have a clear advantage on the battlefield. They are better able to withstand a direct hit from a variety of anti-armor munitions, including the shoulder-fired rocket propelled grenades that are prevalent in many of today's regional conflicts.
General Dynamics' strategic partner, RAFAEL Armament Development Authority Ltd., Ordnance Systems Division (Haifa, Israel), will share 50 percent of the production workload. The production program will be managed at the General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Burlington Technology Center, Burlington, Vt., with U.S. tile production occurring at the company's reactive armor facility in Stone County Operations, McHenry, Miss. Work under this contract will continue through September 2009.
