Rafael’s Trophy Active Protection System has been in the development stages for quite some time, but the US military is now finally testing the shotgun-based forcefield technology. In a nutshell, it intercepts and destroys incoming missiles and rockets with a shotgun-like blast. The design includes the Elta EL/M-2133 F/G band fire-control radar with four flat-panel antennas mounted on the vehicle, with a 360° field of view. When a projectile is detected, the internal computer calculates an approach vector almost instantly, before it arrives. Once the incoming weapon is fully classified, the computers calculate the optimal time and angle to fire the neutralizers. The response comes from two rotating launchers installed on the sides of the vehicle which fire neutralizing agents, usually small metal pellets like buckshot. The system is designed to have a very small kill zone, so as not to endanger personnel adjacent to the protected vehicle. Click here to view the first image in today’s viral picture gallery. Continue reading for the five most popular viral videos today, including one showing the most inefficient way of making popcorn.
