Tel Aviv: Israeli company Rafael is offering an upgrade package for Legacy APCs for the modern battlefield.
The war in Ukraine has reaffirmed the critical role of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) in high-intensity warfare. As large-scale manoeuvre returns to the battlefield, legacy APCs—once regarded as outdated—are now seen as essential assets, provided they are rapidly and effectively modernised.
Today, it is widely recognised that APCs are no longer just platforms for transporting troops—they must be fully combat-capable vehicles, providing firepower, survivability, and protection for the soldiers inside.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems offers a comprehensive upgrade suite for a wide range of legacy APC platforms, delivering firepower, survivability, and mobility enhancements that meet the evolving operational demands of today’s land forces.
The strategic need for APC upgrades:
European and global militaries face urgent requirements to enhance their ground force capabilities. Yet next-generation vehicle procurement programs are costly and time-consuming. In response, many armed forces have adopted a more pragmatic and immediate solution: upgrading their existing fleets of legacy APCs.
This approach allows militaries to:
• Rapidly field enhanced operational capabilities
• Capitalise on existing vehicle inventories and logistics infrastructure
• Avoid integration challenges and long delays associated with entirely new systems.
A current example is on display at the DEFEA 2025 defence exhibition in Greece: Rafael’s upgraded M113 demonstrates how a transport-focused legacy APC can be transformed into a modern combat vehicle. The platform features:
• A 30mm short-barrel remote weapon station for urban and close-range combat
• A dual SPIKE LR2 missile launcher for precision long-range strikes
• Enhanced armour for protection against loitering munitions and UAVs
• A modernised automotive system, including upgraded powerpack and drivetrain components, to improve mobility and reliability in diverse terrains
With Rafael’s integrated upgrades, the vehicle evolves from an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to a fully capable Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV)—a platform that not only carries troops but actively engages in combat with precision and lethality.
Rafael’s approach reflects a systems-level modernisation philosophy:
• Rapid deployment and readiness
• Modular mission-specific capabilities
• Interoperability with NATO and allied systems
• Combat-proven technology based on real-world operational use.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
