Active Protection Systems: The Future of Combat Vehicles Amidst the Evolving Landscape of Warfare

In recent conflicts, the Israeli army and other advanced armies have used active protection systems to defend against incoming threats. These systems utilize tiny precision-guided rockets to intercept and destroy threats, significantly improving the survivability of soldiers. The introduction of active protection on vehicles like the M-2A4E1 marks a crucial step in enhancing the US Army’s capabilities to face threats such as explosive drones used in conflicts like Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Traditionally, armored vehicles have focused their thickest passive armor on the front facing areas most likely to encounter enemy fire. However, with drones posing a threat from various directions where armor is typically thinner, active protection systems like Iron Fist provide defense against threats from all angles. This makes vehicles more resilient to drone attacks compared to older models. The evolving landscape of warfare with the rise of inexpensive attack drones fuels the need for active protection on all combat vehicles.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has spurred other countries to invest in drone technology, indicating that drones could become a common threat in future conflicts. Equipping the US Army’s combat vehicles with active protection will be essential to counter this evolving threat. The initial deployment of the M-2A4E1 with active protection is just the beginning, and as more vehicles are equipped with these systems, US soldiers will be better prepared to face the challenges of modern warfare.