Active protection systems used by some of the world’s most advanced armies, such as the Israeli army, operate by detecting incoming threats and deploying tiny precision-guided rockets to intercept and destroy them. These systems, like Iron Fist, have significantly improved the survivability of soldiers in recent conflicts against groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. The introduction of active protection on vehicles like the M-2A4E1 marks a crucial step in enhancing the US Army’s capabilities in facing threats like explosive drones used in conflicts such as Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Traditionally, armored vehicles have focused their thickest passive armor on the front facing areas most likely to encounter enemy fire. However, in conflicts like the one in Ukraine, drones pose a threat from various directions where armor is typically thinner. Active protection systems like Iron Fist provide defense against threats from all angles, making vehicles like the M-2A4E1 more resilient to drone attacks compared to older models. While the US has no plans to deploy forces to Ukraine, the evolving landscape of warfare with the rise of inexpensive attack drones fuels the need for active protection on all combat vehicles.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has spurred other countries to invest in drone technology, indicating that drones could become a common threat in future conflicts. Equipping the US Army’s combat vehicles with active protection will be essential to counter this evolving threat. The initial deployment of the M-2A4E1 with active protection is just the beginning, and as more vehicles are equipped with these systems, US soldiers will be better prepared to face the challenges of modern warfare.