Tel Aviv: The need of many armed forces to perform massive upgrades on their armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) has resulted in a full package designed by Israeli company Rafael and evaluated now by many countries.
Rafael has unveiled its full portfolio of Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) modernisation solutions, with a strong emphasis on its multi-layered protection suite combining active, reactive, and passive armour.
According to the company, as militaries worldwide seek cost-effective ways to modernise existing fleets, Rafael is offering an operational, battle-proven upgrade packages that extend vehicle lifespans while significantly enhancing survivability, lethality, crew endurance, and connectivity.
Rafael’s modernisation approach follows the “one-third principle” – completing upgrades in one-third the time and at one-third the cost of acquiring new armoured platforms, delivering both operational and economic advantages.
Combat-Proven Protection: A Layered Approach
- TROPHY Active Protection System (APS): The world’s only combat-proven hard-kill APS, providing 360° defence against RPGs, ATGMs, and top-attack threats.
- Reactive & Passive Add-On Armour: Modular, operationally proven solutions deployed worldwide, ensuring survivability against kinetic penetrators, shaped charges, and blast effects.
According to Rafael, together, these systems create a comprehensive survivability envelope, proven in combat across multiple operational theaters.
As per Rafael, its AFV modernisation framework delivers upgrades across five core dimensions, creating decisive force multipliers for modern armies:
- Mobility: Engine, transmission, and suspension upgrades, including Auxiliary Power Units (APUs).
- Crew Endurance and Life-Support: Advanced air-conditioning, fire suppression, ergonomic redesigns, spall liners, and human-machine interface improvements for higher survivability and comfort.
- Survivability: Multi-layered active, reactive, and passive protection solutions tailored to diverse threats.
- Lethality: Samson RCWS with optional SPIKE LR2 precision-guided missiles and other remotely operated weapon configurations.
- Connectivity: BNET SDR radios, internal/external communication systems, and advanced Battle Management Systems.
At this point in time there are two potential customers. Greece is evaluating the Rafael upgrade package for its M113 upgrade. The package includes integrating Samson RCWS, TROPHY APS, advanced modular armour, and full life-support enhancements to extend fleet relevance.
Bulgaria also evaluating the integration of the Israeli company’s Samson RCWS .
“Rafael’s AFV modernisation packages combine combat-proven protection, enhanced mobility, life-support, and firepower with cutting-edge connectivity. By leveraging the one-third principle of time and cost, we offer militaries a highly effective path to transform legacy vehicles into networked, survivable, and lethal combat assets,” a Rafael official said.
-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
