Lockheed, Northrop Test US Army's Modular Active Protection System On M1 Abrams Tank

Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) recently completed initial integration for the US Army's Modular Active Protection System (MAPS) soft-kill demonstrator.

Using Lockheed Martin's Open Architecture Processor and Northrop Grumman's sensor and countermeasure systems, the team completed initial integration in preparation for full system demonstrations on an M1 Abrams tank in 2017.

"Through our collaboration, we verified the value of an open-system design, which allows for easy integration of current and future MAPS components."  said Paul Lemmo, vice president of Fire Control/SOF CLSS at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in a statement Tuesday.

Active protection system components, based on the MAPS Framework which embodies open-architecture principles, can be independently developed and rapidly integrated into a MAPS- based active protection system.

This saves time, reduces cost and helps ensure the warfighter can be protected from ever-evolving threats. A soft-kill capability enables the active protection system to confuse an incoming sensor-based weapon system through spoofing, interference or obscuration, resulting in the elimination of the threat.

"Successful integration of the existing Northrop Grumman Passive Infrared Cueing Sensor (PICS) and Multifunction Electro-Optic System countermeasure (MEOS) within the MAPS framework demonstrates the value of the open architecture construct," said Arlene Camp, vice president of surveillance and targeting sensors at Northrop Grumman. 

"This open architecture construct, combined with multifunction capabilities, highlights the ability to adapt products developed for the air domain to the ground vehicle mission with reduced timelines and lower costs." Camp added.

Lockheed Martin's Open Architecture Processor controls and processes information from multiple sensors and countermeasures, and drives information displays. Designed for safety and modularity, the Open Architecture Processor can easily accommodate upgraded sensors, components and countermeasures as they become available, further protecting the warfighter from emerging threats.