08 February 2021

IAV 2021: Rafael offers new Armour Shield KE reactive armour tailored to APFSDS threat

by Jon Hawkes

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems detailed its Armour Shield KE explosive reactive armour (ERA) solution at the International Armoured Vehicles online conference on 3 February, a new armour solution tailored to defeat armour piercing fin stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) projectiles.

A technical summary of the Armour Shield KE system presented by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems at the IAV 2021 online conference. (Rafael)

Dr David Gershon, survivability engineer at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems said that he believed that the optimal way to provide protection against kinetic energy threats such as APFSDS long rod penetrators is to utilise dedicated reactive armour packages, and that he has seen “a recent waking up, or interest, in adding protection for long rod penetrators and therefore we developed this particular solution”.

Armour Shield KE is marketed as a low-cost, lightweight ERA system that uses low explosive content to offer no collateral damage and multi-hit capability against APFSDS, armour piercing discarding sabot (APDS), unitary shaped charge warheads and explosively formed penetrators (EFPs). Gershon noted that more advanced tandem warhead anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) would be better defeated by APS systems.

Armour Shield KE weighs 700 kg/m ² to 750 kg/m ² in notional configuration for turret face modules, 330 kg/m ² to 375 kg/m ² for hull front modules, and 350 kg/m ² to 400 kg/m ² for turret side modules, the company said.

The armour reduces overall penetration of an APFSDS long rod penetrator by 54% in computer testing, and two live fire tests shown to the conference demonstrated 50% and 48% reductions in penetration, with the two hits fired into the same v-shaped armour array to demonstrate the multi-hit capability of the system.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems detailed its Armour Shield KE explosive reactive armour (ERA) soluti...

Jane's Find unrivaled intelligence, consultancy and advertising solutions to the defence and national security sectors.