EL/M-2133
| Industry | Defense technology |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Israel |
| Products | Trophy active protection system |
Trophy (the designation used by the Israel Defense Forces) is an active protection system (APS) engineered for armored military vehicles, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
Created to enhance the defensive capabilities of both light and heavy armored fighting vehicles, Trophy is currently deployed on Merkava Mark 4 tanks as well as the Namer armored personnel carrier (APC). It has also been installed on Abrams M1A1/2 tanks and subjected to trials on Stryker APCs and Bradley Fighting Vehicles.
This system provides defense against a variety of anti-tank threats while simultaneously boosting the vehicle’s ability to identify enemy locations.
Design
The initial production agreement for Trophy was finalized in 2007 between the IDF and Rafael, with Israeli Government/IDF safety approval granted in 2010, followed by the commencement of deliveries. Central to its design is the Elta EL/M-2133 F/G band fire-control radar, which employs four flat-panel antennas mounted around the vehicle to deliver full 360-degree surveillance.
Utilizing advanced high-speed computing, Trophy detects incoming threats and autonomously determines critical data including trajectory, type of threat, time until impact, and angle of approach. Defensive countermeasures are deployed from two rotating launchers positioned on the vehicle’s sides, firing compact Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs) arranged in a precise pattern to intercept the threat’s path. This focused kill zone reduces danger to nearby friendly forces.
Trophy is designed to integrate seamlessly with other defensive systems such as soft-kill countermeasures, C4I networks, and remote-operated weapon stations. It counters a broad spectrum of threats including anti-tank guided missiles, rockets, HEAT rounds, RPGs, and recoilless rifles.
The system can simultaneously engage multiple threats originating from different directions and operates effectively whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion against both short- and long-range attacks. Recent iterations feature automated reloading capabilities allowing for multiple successive defensive firings. Rafael is actively developing advanced countermeasures aimed at defending against kinetic energy penetrators.
By 2013, incorporating Trophy into a Merkava Mk. IVM resulted in about a 30 percent increase in each vehicle’s overall cost. Production expanded significantly by 2023, reaching a monthly output of 40 Trophy units along with 500 countermeasure devices.
Capabilities and effectiveness
As an active protection technology, Trophy has demonstrated exceptional performance in shielding armored personnel carriers, tanks, and mechanized armor platforms. By 2017, Rafael reported that Trophy had accumulated over 50,000 hours of operational deployment.
Since its introduction in 2011, Israel has confirmed Trophy’s effectiveness across diverse combat settings—including urban areas, open terrain, and forests—successfully intercepting threats such as the 9M133 Kornet ATGM and RPG-29. The U.S. Army has also noted comparable results during testing phases.
The system neutralizes incoming projectiles by launching small EFPs toward them; the combination of kinetic energy, debris impact, and explosive pressure waves disables threats at a safe distance from the vehicle. Against anti-tank guided missiles, these EFPs disrupt the shaped plasma jet responsible for penetration, significantly diminishing its effectiveness. Trophy is particularly capable of defending against top-attack missiles targeting vulnerable upper armor sections.
Rafael established its first Trophy manufacturing line in Israel in 2007 with deliveries beginning in 2010. A separate production facility in the United States was launched in 2012 and started supplying systems from 2015 primarily to the IDF through the Foreign Military Funding (FMF) program. Both production lines support contracts for U.S. forces as well as other international customers.
Application of the system as a threat locator
Trophy’s radar system identifies and categorizes incoming projectiles, transmitting information to the vehicle’s onboard computer as well as to an external network for distribution among allied units. This process notifies individual operators and larger combat groups about potential dangers and the positions of attackers, thereby improving operational effectiveness for both single vehicles and coordinated formations.
The system is capable of assessing whether an incoming threat will miss the vehicle; in such instances, it refrains from deploying countermeasures but still shares the threat’s location to facilitate rapid response by the entire combat team.
System constraints
Integrating active defense systems increases the complexity of equipment, leading to additional training requirements and maintenance efforts. Essential components, including multiple sensor arrays, are susceptible to damage during combat.
The system is ineffective against kinetic energy anti-tank munitions. Weapons similar to the discontinued MGM-166 LOSAT and Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) concepts can penetrate Trophy’s defenses with ease.
Weight considerations are significant: the primary system, intended for heavy frontline tanks, weighs approximately half a ton. While this is manageable on modern main battle tanks weighing around 73 tons, it considerably impacts the power-to-weight ratio on lighter armored vehicles. Various solutions have been developed to adapt the system for lighter platforms.
Trophy employs small explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) directed at incoming threats, neutralizing them through energy discharge, fragmentation, and explosive pressure waves. This method poses potential hazards to nearby dismounted infantry and influences conventional mechanized warfare strategies.
The system exhibits vulnerability to threats approaching from directly overhead; slow drones or grenades dropped by gravity might bypass its detection capabilities. In October 2023, Hamas deployed civilian DJI and Autel quadcopters carrying shaped-charge grenades that inflicted damage on several tanks.
Hamas circulated guidance suggesting that Trophy can be defeated by firing an RPG-7 at distances within 50 meters or by using supersonic projectiles such as those from an SPG-9 recoilless rifle. They also recommended saturating the system with multiple rounds fired in rapid succession to overwhelm its defenses.
Trophy MV/VPS
Previously known as "Trophy Light," Trophy MV/VPS was introduced by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems at the 2007 DSEi exhibition in the United Kingdom. Unlike the standard Trophy intended for main battle tanks, Trophy MV/VPS is designed for light and medium armored vehicles including the Stryker and Bradley platforms. It is roughly 40% lighter and more compact than the original Trophy system, lowering costs without compromising performance or reliability. This was accomplished by maintaining critical elements such as the sensor array, mission computer, hard-kill countermeasure mechanism, and employing identical combat algorithms used in the Trophy HV model.
Leonardo DRS, Rafael’s U.S. collaborator, supplies a customized autoloader for Trophy MV/VPS.
During summer 2018, Rafael conducted comprehensive qualification trials in Israel involving over 130 decision-makers and experts from more than 15 countries. These tests covered threats from rockets and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), achieving a success rate exceeding 95%, thereby validating its capability to defend light and medium armored vehicles effectively.
Trophy LV
Introduced in June 2014, Trophy LV is a lighter variant tailored to safeguard light military vehicles weighing under 8 tons, such as jeeps and 4x4s. It weighs approximately , considerably less than other Trophy versions, delivering advanced protection while preserving vehicle mobility due to its reduced weight.
Integration with Iron Fist
In December 2014, Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Israel Military Industries (IMI) reached an agreement to collaboratively develop an advanced active protection system for armored vehicles by merging the Rafael/IAI Trophy with IMI’s Iron Fist. Rafael assumed the role of primary contractor, overseeing system development and integration, while IAI and IMI participated as subcontractors. This partnership was supported and encouraged by the Defense Ministry. However, no further updates on progress have been disclosed since then.
Combat Record
After completing evaluation phases, the IDF Ground Forces Command declared the Trophy system operational in August 2009, with intentions to outfit an entire battalion of Israeli Armored Corps tanks by the following year.
On March 1, 2011, a Merkava MK IV stationed near Gaza successfully intercepted an incoming missile using the Trophy system, marking its inaugural combat success. Later that month, on March 20, Trophy detected another missile threat in proximity to Gaza but chose not to intercept; instead, it alerted the crew who subsequently eliminated the danger.
On August 1, 2012, a Merkava tank near Kissufim junction employed Trophy to neutralize an anti-tank missile launched from Gaza.
During the 2014 Gaza conflict in July, Trophy successfully intercepted several anti-tank projectiles, including a 9M133 Kornet missile on July 14. By July 20, multiple tanks operated by senior commanders in Gaza were equipped with Trophy protection. Reports confirmed at least five successful interceptions throughout the ground offensive. On July 22, footage surfaced showing Trophy intercepting an RPG-29 rocket.
Hamas attempted to challenge Israeli armored units using sophisticated guided missiles such as the Russian-made Kornet-E and 9M113 Konkurs; however, Trophy consistently countered these threats effectively. This performance highlights a significant evolution in contemporary armored warfare tactics.
As of 2016, all Merkava Mark-IV tanks within the IDF's 401st Armored Brigade and the 7th Armored Brigade’s 75th Battalion were outfitted with Trophy systems. In July of that year, the Israeli Ministry of Defense finalized integrating Trophy onto its initial brigade company of Namer APCs. By November 2016, the IDF announced plans to procure several hundred additional Trophy units to equip nearly all Merkava IV main battle tanks and Namer APC/IFVs.
Operation Protective Edge
Throughout Operation Protective Edge, Israel reported zero tank losses, attributing this achievement to Trophy’s successful interception of over a dozen anti-tank weapons including Kornet missiles, Metis rockets, and RPG-29s. The system’s capability to pinpoint firing origins occasionally allowed crews to eliminate Hamas anti-tank teams directly. Giora Katz, leading Rafael’s land systems division, described this as a “breakthrough,” marking Trophy as the first active protection technology proven effective under intense combat conditions. Over three weeks of fighting, Trophy shielded tanks without registering any hits or false alarms.
Gaza War
During Israel’s incursion into Gaza, numerous RPG-7 rockets aimed at Merkava tanks were successfully intercepted by Trophy. Despite propaganda videos released by Hamas implying successful strikes against Israeli armor, these were thwarted by Trophy’s defenses. Since the October 7th attacks, no Israeli tanks have been destroyed.
Current Users
- (17)
- In February 2021, Israel and Germany finalized a government-level agreement to provide Trophy systems for 17 upgraded Leopard 2A7 A1 tanks. The deal encompasses the delivery of the systems, interceptors, spare components, and training programs. By November 2021, trials conducted on Leopard 2 tanks demonstrated interception rates exceeding 90% along with precise detection of firing sources, marking the completion of system installation. The initial tank equipped with Trophy, built on newly produced chassis and turrets derived from Leopard 2A6A3 models, was handed over in October 2024. Subsequently, in December 2024, Eurotrophy secured a contract to supply 123 new Leopard 2A8 tanks outfitted with Trophy.
- Trophy has been rigorously tested on Stryker vehicles as a candidate for adoption by the US Army and was also assessed on Canadian LAV III platforms. In 2017, the US Army trialed Trophy as a temporary solution pending the development of the Modular Active Protection System (MAPS). By June 2018, Leonardo DRS—Rafael’s American partner—was awarded a $193 million contract to equip Abrams M1A1/A2 tanks with Trophy. As of January 2021, Rafael and Leonardo DRS had delivered sufficient systems to outfit roughly 400 tanks across four armored brigades.
Future operators
- (54)
- Norway's fleet of 54 Leopard 2A8 tanks will be fitted with the EuroTrophy system following contract approval in September 2023.
- On June 24, 2021, the UK Ministry of Defence and Rafael announced that Trophy was chosen for an in-depth evaluation and possible integration into the British Army's Challenger 3 main battle tank. This decision followed a study led by prime contractor Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land, which included integration efforts and testing of the lighter Trophy MV variant. By September 2023, a contract was signed to carry out integration and trials on Challenger 3 tanks ahead of full deployment.
Potential operators
- (50)
- In October 2024, Croatian defense minister Ivan Anušić signed a letter of intent with Germany to acquire up to 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks.
- (70 to 77)
- The Czech Republic’s Ministry of Defense initiated negotiations in May 2023 for acquiring between 70 and 77 Leopard 2A8 tanks, with provisions for local production rights. The government approved this purchase in June 2024 at an estimated cost of 52 billion Czech crowns, targeting delivery completion by 2030.
- Latvia selected the Spanish ASCOD 2 infantry fighting vehicle as its future platform, with versions equipped with the Trophy active protection system.
- In July 2023, Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence confirmed that only the Leopard 2A8 met its operational criteria, dismissing proposals from M1 Abrams and K2 Black Panther. By January 2024, Lithuania finalized an agreement to purchase Leopard 2A8 tanks along with support vehicles for a Tank Battalion; negotiations on final pricing were ongoing. The standard Leopard 2A8 variant includes the Trophy APS.
- In August 2023, the Dutch Ministry of Defence announced plans to procure up to 52 Leopard 2A8 tanks to rebuild its forces after budget reductions. Although initial funding was absent from the 2024 budget, subsequent government action secured financing exceeding NATO’s defense spending benchmark of two percent GDP. By May 2025, plans were confirmed for at least 46 tanks with an option for an additional six.
- On February 15, 2025, at Aero India 2025, Larsen & Toubro signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to manufacture Trophy APS domestically in India and offer integration services for Indian Army armored vehicles.
Related
- Drozd – The Soviet Union's pioneering active protection system.
- Arena – An enhanced iteration of Drozd, similar in capability to the Israeli Iron Fist APS.
- Zaslin – A Ukrainian APS installed on the BM Oplot main battle tanks.
- Iron Fist – An Israeli active protection system engineered by Israel Military Industries.
- GL5 Active Protection System – A Chinese hard-kill active defense technology.
- Afganit – Russian hard-kill APS integrated into the T-14 Armata, T-15 Armata, and Kurganets-25 armored platforms.