US Army Deploys Israeli Elbit Active Protection System on Bradley Fighting Vehicles

The U.S. Army has officially begun fielding its first Bradley fighting vehicles equipped with Elbit Systems' "Iron Fist" active protection system. This deployment marks a significant operational step for the U.S. Army, aiming to counter modern battlefield threats including advanced anti-tank missiles, RPGs, suicide drones, and loitering munitions. For Israel's defense industry, this represents a major endorsement from the world's largest military, which is again choosing Israeli technology to protect its soldiers.

The Bradleys being delivered are not new vehicles but existing ones that have undergone extensive upgrades to the M2A4 standard (specifically M2A4E1 for this system). These upgrades include replacing the engine, transmission, and suspension, with a critical enhancement to the electrical systems to power the advanced electronics, radars, and interceptors. This modernization transforms the older vehicles into more survivable platforms.

This procurement is part of a collaboration between Elbit Systems and American defense giant General Dynamics. Initial contracts for equipping an entire Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) exceed $200 million, with the program's total potential value estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars as more brigades are equipped. The U.S. Army plans to gradually deliver and integrate these vehicles over the coming years, incorporating them into joint training exercises.

The selection of "Iron Fist" for the Bradley highlights its technological differences from Rafael's "Trophy" system. While "Trophy" uses a dense cluster of metal fragments (MEFP) to neutralize threats, "Iron Fist" employs a small, expendable interceptor that detonates near the threat, neutralizing it with a blast wave. This approach minimizes secondary fragmentation, reducing risk to infantry operating near the vehicle. "Iron Fist" is also lighter and more compact, making it suitable for medium and light armored vehicles that cannot support the weight of "Trophy."

Despite the "Iron Fist" integration on Bradleys, the U.S. Army continues to use Rafael's "Trophy" on its Abrams M1A2 tanks, with cumulative deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. However, following lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and recognizing the Abrams' increasing weight and complexity, the Pentagon canceled the SEPv4 upgrade program in favor of developing a new M1E3 tank. The future tank will feature an integrated active protection system rather than an add-on, with Rafael and its partner Leonardo DRS already developing modular, lightweight versions.

Israel's own military is also diversifying its active protection systems. Merkava Mark 4 tanks and Namer APCs are equipped with "Trophy," while the lighter, wheeled Eitan APCs and D9 bulldozers are being fitted with "Iron Fist." The Eitan's integration was delayed due to budget priorities within the Ground Forces, despite a 2020 contract with Elbit for the system.