As part of a recent request for information issued to local and international firms, Israeli company Rafael has confirmed its interest in equipping the Indian Army’s T-90S/SK Bhishma tanks with its APS Trophy systems. This was revealed in a recent official statement announcing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with local company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to offer this active protection system to the armed forces of the Asian country.
At the beginning of February, the Indian Army published a request for information (RFI) inviting local and foreign companies to submit their products and reports for the potential acquisition of new active protection systems. Specifically, the official documents refer to the integration of these systems into the T-90S/SK Bhishma fleet, the country’s main battle tank.
Developed in partnership with Russia and produced locally in large numbers, the T-90S Bhishma and its upgraded variants constitute the core of the Indian Army’s tank fleet. Since its introduction in the early 2000s, India has continued to procure successive batches of Russian-origin tanks, incorporating an increasing share of locally developed components and technologies with each new order. The latest example of this evolution is the new T-90 MK III, resulting from the last major purchase agreement signed with Russia in 2019, with deliveries beginning in 2024.
However, as seen in many other countries, the conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the need to equip tanks with enhanced survivability capabilities, with active protection systems being among the key upgrades.
The RFI issued earlier this month specifies the requirement for both soft- and hard-kill APS to counter ATGMs, guided rockets, drones, and kinetic projectiles, ensuring seamless integration into the Indian Army’s T-90 tanks without compromising their performance.
Against the backdrop of the Aero India 2025 International Exhibition, held from February 11 to 14, Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. (Rafael) announced its emerging partnership with local firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to develop a version of its APS Trophy system tailored to meet the Indian Army’s requirements. While the statement does not explicitly mention it, the timing of the RFI and the announcement suggest that the main objective of this potential partnership is the integration of the APS system into the T-90 through a local partner, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative.
Rafael stated: “The partnership between Rafael and L&T for the Trophy active protection system is a significant milestone for both companies. It will not only enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces but also reinforce our commitment to the country’s defense manufacturing ecosystem and operational readiness. Together, Rafael and L&T will contribute to strengthening India’s defense capabilities with world-class technologies,” said CEO Yoav Tourgeman.
Arun Ramchandani, Senior Vice President and Head of Precision Engineering & Systems at L&T, added: “This partnership between two technology-driven companies, Rafael and L&T, introduces the latest version of the battle-proven Trophy active protection system as a customized solution for Indian combat platforms. It will be manufactured in India with local sustainment capabilities. This system will enhance the survivability of in-service combat platforms as well as future acquisitions by the Indian Armed Forces.”
Currently, Trophy is the leading and most widely recognized active protection system in service for tanks and other types of armored combat vehicles. Among its operators are the Merkava MBTs of the Israel Defense Forces and the M1A2 SEPv2 of the U.S. Army. Looking ahead, the new versions of the Leopard 2 will incorporate it as a standard feature, along with the British Army’s new Challenger 3.
Officially, the Israeli company states: “The Trophy system, which provides automatic hostile fire detection, delivers precise and repeatable performance with an interception probability exceeding 90%. Whether at short or long range, and even while on the move, Trophy provides 360° protection with a high elevation angle. Its countermeasures include a variety of active interception mechanisms, such as blast effects, fragments, explosively formed penetrators (EFPs), and bullets.”
Additionally, they state: “The detonation of a Trophy system countermeasure generates minimal collateral impact, reducing the required safety distance for dismounted soldiers and civilians to just a few meters from the vehicle. Moreover, the system can cancel an interception at any time, preserving the countermeasure for a future threat.”
Images used for illustration purposes.
