Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. celebrated the official roll-out of the first Leopard 2A8 Main Battle Tanks equipped with the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) at the KNDS Munich. The tanks were formally delivered to the German Army and the Norwegian Armed Forces, underscoring Europe’s commitment to enhanced armored survivability.
Photo: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
The Leopard 2A8 is the first Leopard variant to be delivered with Trophy as part of its standard factory configuration, integrated directly on the KNDS production line. This reflects a growing demand across Europe for field-proven active protection solutions that ensure crew survivability and freedom of maneuver in high-threat environments.
Both contracts were executed through EuroTrophy GmbH, the Europeanjoint venture between Rafael, KNDS, and GDELS, responsible for the production of Trophy APS, coordinating European security of supply, and establishing long-term sustainment and lifecycle support.
Trophy is the world’s only fully operational and combat-proven Active Protection System, with more than a decade of continuous service and thousands of successful real-world interceptions. With over 1,900 systems procured, Trophy has demonstrated exceptional reliability, zero fratricide, and unmatched performance in safe guarding armored formations against a wide spectrum of anti-armor threats.
Meir Ben Tzook, VP and Head of Rafael’s Land Maneuver Systems Directorate, and Chairman of the Board of EuroTrophy GmbH, said:
The roll-out of the Leopard 2A8 marks an important milestone for Europe’s armored forces. We are proud that Trophy has been selected asthe active protection system for this new generation of tanks. As the world’s only operational and combat-proven APS, Trophy has repeatedly shown its ability to protect crews and enable both wheeled and tracked vehicles to maneuver with confidence in the toughest battlefield conditions. Through EuroTrophy GmbH, our European joint venture, were main fully committed to supporting our European partners with this life-saving capability, as well as with the industrial cooperation and long-term sustainment needed for its continued success.
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