German Leopard 2 tested with Trophy APS for first time

The MoDs of Israel and Germany have completed the first series of live firing tests in Germany of the Trophy APS integrated into a Leopard 2 MBT. (IMOD)

The Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 2 November that it and its German counterpart had completed the first series of live firing tests in Germany of the Trophy active defence system (APS) integrated into a Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT).

The tests, conducted in co-operation with Rafael and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), demonstrated the integration of Trophy into the Leopard 2, with a threat interception success rate of over 90%, according to the Israeli MoD.

The Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), Germany's Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, signed a government-to-government agreement in February with Israel for Trophy for integration into German Leopard 2s. The programme is led by the Israeli MoD's Directorate of Defense R&D (MAFAT) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and covers the supply of systems for a tank company, interceptors, spare parts, and operational and technical training over the next several years.

Rafael was awarded a contract for an initial batch of Trophy systems and KMW was also awarded a contract. The two companies will integrate and install Trophy on the Leopard 2 and future platforms. KMW will install the systems on Leopard 2A6MA3 MBTs through to 2023, designating the upgraded tank as the Leopard 2A7MA1.

When the contract was awarded, Rafael expected Germany to procure additional Trophy systems to equip most of its Leopard 2s.