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Defence & Space

Rheinmetall AG and Auterion cooperation on military drone technology

2024-12-09

German-based Rheinmetall AG and Swiss-based Auterion are working together on drone technology and developing standard operating system for military industries.

Supervisory Board of Rheinmetall AG: Sabina Jeschke and Sigmar Gabriel nominated as new members

2024-12-06

Prof Dr Sabina Jeschke and former Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel have been nominated as new members of Rheinmetall AG’s supervisory board.

Russian Offensive Against Ukraine’s Energy Industry

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The Russians are stockpiling missiles to launch another aerial offensive. On one hand, this shows the weakness of the Russian industry,…

Will the conflict in the Middle East affect the Russian “Special Operation”?

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Iran had been announcing retaliatory actions for many months. Finally, it carried out a large-scale attack on targets in Israel. Russian…

ST Engineering Proposes Terrex S5 for Kazakhstan with Local Manufacturing Option

2024-12-06

The Singaporean company ST Engineering and the Kazakh company Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering have signed a strategic cooperation agreement under which a wheeled…

April Contract for FlyEye for the Polish Armed Forces Fulfilled

2024-12-04

WB Electronics, a company within the WB Group, has delivered seven sets of FlyEye Miniature Unmanned Aerial Systems to the Polish Territorial…

Rheinmetall and Hologate sign strategic cooperation agreement for XR and VR simulation solutions

2024-12-03

Rheinmetall and Hologate announce the start of a strategic cooperation. The aim is to develop innovative simulation solutions. Both companies combine expertise…

Thales at Eurosatory 2024: Trusted intelligence serving the Armed Forces

2024-06-17

Thales Group will be showing the latest technologies to support the sovereignty, safety and sustainability of nations.

IGEF’25: An Event Uniting Global Security Expertise and Innovation in Ankara

2024-11-25

The International Security and Defence Fair (IGEF’25) is set to convene in Ankara’s ATO Congresium, Congress and Exhibition Center, bringing together…

CS WOT participating in international exchange of experience on loitering ammunition

2024-11-25

On November 19-20, the Loitering Munitions Conference, the world’s first conference dedicated to loitering munition systems, was held in London. The…

Rheinmetall AG and Auterion cooperation on military drone technology

2024-12-09

German-based Rheinmetall AG and Swiss-based Auterion are working together on drone technology and developing standard operating system for military industries.

Supervisory Board of Rheinmetall AG: Sabina Jeschke and Sigmar Gabriel nominated as new members

2024-12-06

Prof Dr Sabina Jeschke and former Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel have been nominated as new members of Rheinmetall AG’s supervisory board.

Italian National Fire Corps to strengthen capabilities with specialized AW139

2024-11-06

The Italian National Fire Corps (Vigili del Fuoco, part of the Ministry of the Interior) will introduce eight AW139 intermediate…

One million rounds of shotgun ammunition from FAM Pionki for the Polish Police

2024-09-30

The Polish National Police Headquarters awarded FAM Pionki – Fabryka Amunicji Myśliwskiej (Hunting Ammunition Factory) – a contract for the supply…

Rheinmetall AG and Auterion cooperation on military drone technology

2024-12-09

German-based Rheinmetall AG and Swiss-based Auterion are working together on drone technology and developing standard operating system for military industries.

ST Engineering Proposes Terrex S5 for Kazakhstan with Local Manufacturing Option

2024-12-06

The Singaporean company ST Engineering and the Kazakh company Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering have signed a strategic cooperation agreement under which a wheeled…

The seventy-sixth package of U.S. military aid to Ukraine

2024-11-21

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced the eighteenth military aid package this year (and the 76th overall) and the…

Chancellery of the Polish President Outlines Aid for War-Torn Ukraine

2024-11-11

Poland ranks first (in relation to GDP) among all countries involved in supporting Ukraine. Polish aid was the first to reach the…

ICEYE US expands its collaboration with NASA

2024-09-11

The American company ICEYE US, a subsidiary of the Polish-Finnish ICEYE, has signed an agreement to expand its cooperation with the American…

Rheinmetall AG strengthens its cooperation with the Polish-Finnish company ICEYE

2024-09-11

The German group Rheinmetall AG is strengthening its cooperation with the Polish-Finnish company ICEYE, obtaining exclusive rights to offer its satellite…

Shooting

Direct Action SWAGs: Casual Gear, Tactical Edge

2024-12-05

Direct Action SWAGs is a new clothing line, consisting of hoodies, t-shirts, patches, and hats with themes related to the military-tactical industry.

Black Week at Clawgear

2024-11-28

The Black Week promotion at Clawgear runs until December 2, 2024. The more you add to your cart, the bigger the…

Black Week at Clawgear

2024-11-28

The Black Week promotion at Clawgear runs until December 2, 2024. The more you add to your cart, the bigger the…

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

2024-11-28

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

Direct Action SWAGs: Casual Gear, Tactical Edge

2024-12-05

Direct Action SWAGs is a new clothing line, consisting of hoodies, t-shirts, patches, and hats with themes related to the military-tactical industry.

Black Week at Clawgear

2024-11-28

The Black Week promotion at Clawgear runs until December 2, 2024. The more you add to your cart, the bigger the…

POLSECURE: Holsters HPE Poland offer for uniformed services

2024-05-01

At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce, Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for…

Firearms ownership in Poland, 2022: growth in the year of war

2023-03-14

National Police Headquarters released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and individual firearms owned by Polish citizens. It can be…

The tests of MSBS Grot S16

2024-11-18

The MSBS Grot S16 FB-M1 is a semi-automatic variant of the standard assault rifle used by the Polish Armed Forces and law…

The GROT BS10 FB-M1 BULLPUP is hitting the market!

2024-09-23

Fabryka Broni Łucznik-Radom is launching the GROT BS10 FB-M1 BULLPUP, a 5.56 mm semi-automatic bullpup rifle equipped with a short 10.5-inch (267…

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

2024-11-28

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

Weapon light: a practical tool for everyday service. How to choose?

2024-08-29

In the world of armed forces, where every second can determine the outcome of an operation, precision and effectiveness are…

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

2024-02-17

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

Firearms ownership in Poland, 2022: growth in the year of war

2023-03-14

National Police Headquarters released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and individual firearms owned by Polish citizens. It can be…

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

2022-11-11

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

2022-05-23

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

2024-09-02

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

Testing Blackhawk Holster

2024-01-31

Blackhawk is a company that needs no introduction to any shooting enthusiast. For 30 years, they have been involved in producing the highest…

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

2024-09-02

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

Iron Fist Active Protection System from Elbit Systems of Israel

Known as Iron Fist internationally and Hetz Dorban (Porcupine Arrow) in Israel, it is a hard-kill vehicle Active Protection System (APS), developed by IMI Systems (part of Elbit Systems), which is intended to effectively protect military vehicles against enemy fire.

The Iron Fist system is mounted on turreted and non-turreted armored vehicles and in its standard configuration consists of:

  • Doppler radars with a phased array antenna with active electronically scanning AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) with 360-degree coverage, (maximum four);
  • infrared sensors (maximum four);
  • Interceptors’ launchers on both sides of the turret or hull (each contains of two ready launching barrels with interceptors);
  • computerized control unit with control panel, two launcher control units (right and left) and Master Arm integration kit.

The Iron Fist APS entire system weight is about 450 kg, making it suitable for light and medium armored vehicles.

A set of the above sensors detects and classifies incoming targets, and the computerized control unit receives data from the sensors and performs calculations to determine the optimal point for intercepting threats by interceptors equipped with small warheads, at a safe distance from the vehicle.

Iron Fist on KF41 Lynx / Photo: Elbit Systems

History

IMI Systems, previously known as Israel Military Industries (since 2018 part of Elbit Systems), presented the concept of a new APS-class system for the Israeli Ministry of Defense in 2006. Testing of the prototype began in mid-2007. The system was successfully tested against a variety of threats, including rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), and tank-fired high-explosive anti-tank ammunition (HEAT) and Kinetic-Energy (KE) APFSDS (Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot) ammunition.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMoD) approved the purchase and introduction of Iron Fist to the Defense Forces in June 2009. The first sets were tested operationally on Namer heavy Armored Personnel Carriers, based on the Merkava tank chassis. In November 2010, the IMoD announced the end of financing for the development of the system and a competitive Trophy system was ordered, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Namer with Iron Fist / Photo: Elbit Systems

In May 2011, during tests in the USA, the Elbit Systems system successfully destroyed variety of anti-tank guided missiles, RPGs and even KE APFSDS tank projectile on static and on the move scenarios.

In 2012, the IMoD came up with an idea to combine the best features of both systems, i.e. the effector from Iron Fist (kinetic anti-missile) and the Trophy’s C3 class command, control and communication system together with ELTA Systems’ radar. The share of both companies was to be similar, but Rafael was to be the main integrator, which IMI Systems did not agree to.

CV90 with Iron Fist / Photo: Elbit Systems

Therefore, in early 2013, the Israeli Ministry of Defense compared the effectiveness of Iron Fist with Trophy. It was then expected that the ministry would select one second-generation APS class system for IDF’s armored vehicles. Ultimately, however, it was decided to finance and implement both systems in parallel, but on different platforms. The idea of synergy re-emerged in December 2014, following the combat use of Trophy during Protective Edge operation half a year earlier.

In June 2016, the US Army announced that it would test a lighter variant of the Iron Fist system, i.e. Iron Fist Light, for its MAPS (Modular Active Protection System) program, i.e. the development of its own modular APS system for armored vehicles. After tests on M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, the system was modified and received the designation Iron Fist Light Decoupled (IF-LD).

The work in the USA is carried out in cooperation with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS). On January 7, 2019, a photo of the M2A4 Bradley IFV with the Iron Fist Light set was revealed and on April 30, 2024, the modified variant M2A4E1.

M2A4E1 Bradley with Iron Fist / Photo: US Army

In the meantime, the Americans also tested soft-kill APS systems, such as the Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY) with 40 mm smoke grenade launchers, developed by American Rheinmetall Munitions, or Raven from BAE Systems. They also decided to emergency purchase the Trophy HV system for the needs of M1A2SEPv2 Abrams tanks.

Earlier, on December 23, 2016, IMI Systems was selected by BAE Systems Hagglunds of Sweden as the supplier of the APS hard-kill system for tests with the Dutch CV9035NL infantry fighting vehicles, which were to receive new turrets as part of the modernization. After the tests, the decision to order the Iron Fist Light sets was made by the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in January 2021, and on September 26, 2022, the first serial IFV in the new configuration was handed over to the ordering party.

CV9035NL with Iron Fist / Photo: BAE Systems

Shortly after the acquisition of IMI Systems by Elbit Systems, on August 20, 2019 the company announced success when the Department of Production and Procurement of the Israeli MOD selected the Iron Fist Light Decoupled system for the new Eitan 8×8 heavy wheeled infantry carriers, the turreted Namer IFVs and D9 Caterpillar dozers.

Eitan with Iron Fist / Photo: Elbit Systems

Another success was announced in November 2021 during the second edition of the International Defense Industry Fair FEINDEF (Feria Internacional de la Defensa y la Seguridad) at the Juan Carlos I Exhibition Center in Madrid. Elbit Systems has reached an agreement with the Spanish company Escribano Mechanical & Engineering S.L. (EM&E) regarding the integration of Iron Fist with Guardian 30 unmanned turret systems, intended for the new Spanish VCR Dragon 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicles, built on the MOWAG Piranha V chassis.

On Dec. 2022 BAE Systems Hagglunds announced a government-to-government agreement between Sweden and the Slovak Republic on $1.37 billion for the delivery of 152 CV9035 infantry fighting vehicles equipped with Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist active protection system.

Photo: Elbit Systems

On September 11, 2023, Elbit Systems signed a $109 million contract to supply Iron Fist APS to BAE Systems Hägglunds (BSH) for CV90 infantry fighting vehicles.

On Dec. 2023 the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has signed a USD2.4 billion contract with Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA) to deliver 129 AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to the Australian Army under its Land 400 Phase 3 program, all being equipped with Elbit’s Iron Fist APS.

AS21 Redback with Iron Fist / Photo: Elbit Systems

On March 2024, The U.S. Army has awarded a sole source 8-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract to General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) and Elbit Systems to upgrade its Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) with Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS).

Elbit Systems has received an initial delivery order award under Leidos U.S. Army CHS-6 (Common Hardware Systems 6th Generation) contract, with additional orders anticipated.

In parallel, the Iron Fist APS has been selected by the two finalists of the XM30 Program: American Rheinmetall Vehicles (ARV) and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), who are competing for the new U.S. Army Bradley replacement Combat Fighting vehicle, the XM30.

On 8th August 2024, Elbit Systems awarded $130 million contract to supply Iron Fist APS to BAE Systems Hägglunds for a European country to be installed on the CV90 IFVs.

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