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Indian engineering giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Israel\u2019s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to locally manufacture and supply the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) for Indian defense platforms. The announcement was made during Aero India 2025, underscoring India\u2019s growing focus on equipping its armored forces with modern protection systems against evolving battlefield threats.<\/strong><\/p>\n The partnership will customize the latest variant of Trophy APS for current and future armored combat vehicles in the Indian Army, L&T\u2019s Senior Vice President and Head of Precision Engineering & Systems, Arun Ramchandani, stated. With the lessons learned from recent conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, the need for an effective APS to counter advanced anti-tank threats has become a critical requirement for the Indian Army.<\/p>\n Developed by Rafael, Trophy APS has gained recognition as one of the most effective active protection systems globally. It provides a multi-layered defense mechanism to armored vehicles, countering threats from anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), loitering munitions, and top-attack weapons like the Javelin and NLAW missiles.<\/p>\n The Trophy system integrates four ELTA EL\/M-2133 F\/G band radar antennas, offering 360-degree coverage for real-time threat detection. Electro-optical sensors further enhance situational awareness and target identification. The system can engage incoming threats with both soft-kill and hard-kill countermeasures:<\/p>\n An automated reloading system enables Trophy to engage multiple threats simultaneously, and its smart threat discrimination minimizes unnecessary activations, preserving countermeasures for actual threats.<\/p>\n Initially deployed on Israeli Merkava Mk 4 tanks in 2011, the earlier versions of Trophy APS were designed to counter direct-fire threats but lacked protection against drones and top-attack ATGMs. Recognizing these vulnerabilities, Rafael unveiled an upgraded version in October 2024, enhancing Trophy\u2019s capability to counter modern top-attack and aerial threats.<\/p>\n Rafael claims a 90% effectiveness rate for Trophy APS, making it one of the most battle-proven systems available. The upgraded Trophy APS is now equipped to defend against a wider range of threats, making it highly relevant for the Indian Army\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n India operates a large fleet of main battle tanks (MBTs), including:<\/p>\n At present, none of these tanks are equipped with an active protection system (APS). Instead, they rely on\u00a0passive protection measures<\/strong>, such as:<\/p>\n The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the limitations of passive protection, with modern anti-tank weapons\u2014including drones, precision-guided artillery shells, and top-attack missiles\u2014posing a serious threat to armored vehicles. The vulnerability of Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks in the Ukraine conflict has raised concerns about the survivability of similar tanks in the Indian Army.<\/p>\n Recognizing the urgent need for better protection, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) initiated efforts to acquire an APS in 2021. The MoD issued an\u00a0Expression of Interest (EOI) for 818 modular APS systems<\/strong>\u00a0for its T-90S\/SK tanks, requiring a system with:<\/p>\n However, at the time, top-attack threats and drones were not a primary concern. In light of battlefield lessons from Ukraine, the Indian Army has now updated its requirements to\u00a0explicitly include countermeasures against top-attack missiles and drones<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Indian Army\u2019s T-90S and T-90SK tanks are powered by\u00a0V-84MS 840 hp diesel engines<\/strong>, with a top speed of 60 km\/h on roads. Some units have been retrofitted with\u00a0V-92S2 1,000 hp engines<\/strong>\u00a0for improved performance. Protection includes:<\/p>\n However,\u00a0Shtora-1 lacks hard-kill capabilities<\/strong>\u00a0and is outdated compared to modern APS. Russia has introduced the\u00a0Arena-M APS<\/strong>\u00a0for its latest T-90M tanks, but India has yet to adopt an equivalent system.<\/p>\n While Rafael\u2019s Trophy APS is a strong contender for India\u2019s APS procurement, other options are also under consideration:<\/p>\n Trophy APS holds key advantages:<\/p>\n Additionally, Trophy APS can be integrated into India\u2019s upcoming\u00a0Zorawar light tank<\/strong>, making it a versatile solution for a range of armored platforms.<\/p>\n The MoU between L&T and Rafael is a strategic step towards localizing the production of APS technology. With a vast fleet of tanks requiring upgrades,\u00a0domestic production ensures cost-effectiveness, rapid deployment, and self-reliance<\/strong>\u00a0in defense manufacturing.<\/p>\n The collaboration aligns with India\u2019s\u00a0Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative<\/strong>, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers while strengthening the country\u2019s defense industry.<\/p>\n With modern battlefields demanding\u00a0advanced protection systems<\/strong>, the Indian Army is under pressure to fast-track APS procurement. Given its combat-proven capabilities and updated drone and top-attack defenses,\u00a0Trophy APS emerges as a frontrunner<\/strong>. However, the competition with Russian APS systems and DRDO\u2019s indigenous development remains an important factor.<\/p>\n\n
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1. Arena-M (Russia)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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2. Afghanit APS (Russia)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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3. Indigenous APS (India)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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