General Dynamics has just released a new video demonstrating its Trophy Active Defense System, which is basically an invisible force field for military vehicles that disables incoming RPG rounds. Video after the jump.
The system can simultaneously engage several threats, arriving from different directions, is effective on stationary or moving platforms, and is effective against short and long range threats (such as RPGs and ATGM). Trophy was designed to be effective in open or closed terrain, including urban area and can be operated under all weather conditions
wonder how many types of missiles etc does that work with
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Posted at 10/16/2006 03:47am by
bob
would this protect against anything above supersonic, as its radar is really short range, so would have a few milli seconds to react
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Posted at 10/16/2006 07:53am by
ahmet
a type of missle on futer weapons on discovery channel can pass this becauce the missle itself launches a second third and forth if needed (maby more) small missle then the missle just comes and hits the tank.
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Posted at 10/16/2006 08:41am by
Macaca
I think its sci-fi gone real, and its very scary only the US and Israeli's have stuff like this. Coupled with the likes of MTHEL (big a** laser against artillery and ballistic missles) and the Airborne Laser (same), these folks are getting a bit to invurnarable for my personal taste.
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Posted at 10/16/2006 11:43am by
me
and what kind of energy source does it have? ;)
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Posted at 10/16/2006 11:50am by
Mark
I have got to have one of those!
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Posted at 10/16/2006 11:52am by
Rob
The posted video is actually by an Israeli firm. They did work on this project with the US military though.
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Posted at 10/16/2006 11:53am by
Mike Wright
Read this for your own edification...
http://www.myspace.com/grammnazi
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Posted at 10/16/2006 12:22pm by
Fire Junk Monkey
"I think its sci-fi gone real, and its very scary only the US and Israeli’s have stuff like this. Coupled with the likes of MTHEL (big a** laser against artillery and ballistic missles) and the Airborne Laser (same), these folks are getting a bit to invurnarable for my personal taste."
Hey, its not our fault that your country doesnt have the technology to create the same things. Countries are only as invulnerable as you let them be.
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Posted at 10/16/2006 12:24pm by
roma
Israeli design. best. idf ownz. end.
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Posted at 10/16/2006 12:48pm by
Mike
The kind of missiles that may penetrate this won't be shoulder mountable. I don't think this eliminates all threats, but rather raises the bar for the kind of threats.
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Posted at 10/16/2006 12:50pm by
digitalintrigue
Quite the contrary...all the better that the technology is only in the hands of the good guys.
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Posted at 10/16/2006 12:53pm by
Dr. Bill: The Computer Curmudgeon » Blog Archive » Invisible Forcefields for Tanks?:: Dr. Bill Bailey ruminates on computers, the web, life, the universe... and everything!
[...] (Video) Trophy Active Defense System: Invisible Forcefield [...]
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Posted at 10/16/2006 1:11pm by
J
How does this thing reduce platform weight? It's an additional component! That claim seems impossible.
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Posted at 10/16/2006 1:40pm by
nj
Lol, "invisible forcefield"? Read the linked article. It's an active countermeasure system using completely un-scifiesque return fire to shatter the incoming missile.
Try not watching so much Star Trek..
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Posted at 10/16/2006 1:48pm by
Peter Goodman
I don't think that it is a force field per se. There was one instance in this video where they pointed out the Trophy system on the side of a tank and it was obviously blurred. I'm sure that it's some sore of ridiculously quick gun/laser weapon.
Otherwise, assume that it was a force field, if it has the capacity to blow up an incoming rpg / missile, then none of the missile et al would make it past the field as it does in the vid.
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Posted at 10/16/2006 1:55pm by
Spc Evans
This system would be a great tool used in Iraq, especially with the projectiles used against us like the EFP. If we could put this system on our 1114's over in iraq the insurgents would find that we would be unstopable. In my experience over in baghdad in 2005-2006 we lost 2 great Soldiers from our MP company. If this system was on our trucks, we could have brought everyone home. Maybe George W should look into spending our goverments money the right way and take care of our soldiers/ marines in the field we wouldnt have had to loose the great men and women that we have in this rediculous war..
Spc Evans
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Posted at 10/16/2006 2:44pm by
Ann Onemouse
Boondoggle:
This expensive system will easily be overcome by four or more rockets fired within a second of one another from different directions.
Side note: It's extremely silly to call this a "Force Field", which implies a physical barrier created by energy alone. However effective the system may or may not be, "Rapidly-deployed projectile countermeasures" would be much more accurate.
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Posted at 10/16/2006 2:46pm by
Aet
this system uses projectiles to detonate incoming warheads
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Posted at 10/16/2006 3:09pm by
Lavarock
This is spectacular, but what *is* it? They censored the Trpohy system out of the video of the live field test, and they don't explain how it's done? Is it just a gun that automatically and quickly destroys rockets in mid air?
21
Posted at 10/16/2006 3:29pm by
Warren
Also, This system is useless agasin't unguided systems. An RPG or any other impact detenated device or just a SABOT round would punch right throught it. Sure its effective against smart targets, but is it worth cost when it can't stop mines, shells, grenades, most rpgs... such on.
Otherwise, that is friggin cool ;)
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Posted at 10/16/2006 3:32pm by
Will
And remember Macaca this is only a de-classified project. Nothing close to what we really are capable of. :) No one stands a chance. The whole theory of no one can win a nuclear WAR is no longer true. Never really has been. ;)
If terrorists where to say bomb a major city and killed over a million people, their city/state/country/whatever would cease to exist. Unless of course it's USA. Then well, then we got a problem... lol
But in my humble opinion, the terrorists of this GOD forsaken world are nothing compared to the "terrorists" in our own back yard. Bank robbers, gangs, rapists, murderers, etc. They do more damage than any terrorist group could ever do. So I ask now, who is really the most dangerous "terrorists" on planet earth?
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Posted at 10/16/2006 3:45pm by
Mark
Yeah that's nice and all, but it can't stop conventinal artillery and other tank's HEAT and SABOT rounds now can it? It also doesn't stop a sneaky gangbanger from popping a nade down the hatch and killing the crew... It also provides a large hastle if one gets jacked... "They stole our tanks..." "Oh... My... God!"
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Posted at 10/16/2006 4:35pm by
rob
so it detects a missle, rpg etc with radar then what? i assume it fires its own projectile ala: metalstorm? at the rocket to blow it up before impact?
what does it actually do?
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Posted at 10/16/2006 4:36pm by
Loud Opinions | Blog » Blog Archive » VIDEO - Invisible Forcefield System for Military Vehicles
[...] General Dynamics has just released a new video demonstrating its Trophy Active Defense System, which is basically an invisible force field for military vehicles that disables incoming RPG rounds. | digg story [...]
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