In February 2025, a significant collaboration was announced between Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd (Rafael) from Israel and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) from India, marking a new chapter in the indigenization of advanced defense technologies. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the integration of the TROPHY Active Protection System (APS) into India’s combat vehicles. This announcement represents a key milestone in India’s ongoing defense modernization efforts and underscores its commitment to bolstering its self-reliance in critical military technologies.
The TROPHY APS is a cutting-edge, battle-tested solution that provides active protection to military platforms against a range of modern threats. It is the only APS in the world that has been proven in real combat scenarios, earning a reputation for its reliability and effectiveness in countering a variety of missile threats, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and even small unmanned aerial systems (drones). In addition to its traditional role in neutralizing anti-tank missiles, TROPHY is also equipped with Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capabilities, expanding its role in modern battlefields where drones are increasingly used for surveillance and attacks. Through this collaboration with L&T, TROPHY APS will be integrated into Indian combat vehicles, enhancing the protection of troops and platforms on the frontlines.
The integration of TROPHY APS into Indian combat vehicles is expected to significantly increase the survivability of platforms such as the Arjun Mk2 main battle tank, K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers, and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, among others. The Arjun Mk2, an advanced Indian-made tank, will likely be one of the first vehicles to benefit from TROPHY’s advanced protection capabilities, particularly in environments where anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) pose a significant threat. The K9 Vajra, a self-propelled howitzer produced by L&T, will also see its protection capabilities enhanced by TROPHY, safeguarding it against RPGs, ATGMs, and drones. Furthermore, the BMP-2, the backbone of India’s mechanized infantry, stands to gain significantly from the integration of TROPHY, offering better protection when operating in high-risk environments, such as urban combat zones.