Tank Forcefield

[Samurai Waki]

Although it doesn't sound like too much now, this could very well end up being perhaps the largest military technological breakthrough in a long time. If its designed to be effective against RPGs now, later on it could also become improved to protect against IEDs, Tank Rounds, and Even Bullets....*excitedness*

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Only thing I'm worried about is this. It seems like the man doing the report hinted that shells from inside the "forcefield" if you will, could not exit either. I'm not sure, maybe I took it wrong.

[Reverend Joe]

Hilarious.



...Wait... it isn't a joke? Does anyone have any idea what something like this would cost, not to mention the number of flaws and horrible accidents that are bound to happen?! I mean let's say soldier X is looking for cover, and finds only a nearby tank, moving at slow speed. He approaches at a rapid pace, but certainly not fast enough to activate the system. But then, the system malfunctions...

It's just one more electronic piece of crap that we have to deal with. One of these days, a real low-tech army with immense numbers (*cough* China *cough*) is going to attack us- and when we see all of our high tech, expensive equipment being chewed to pieces via sheer numbers, we will stop and say to ourselves, "What the hell happened?!"

[yesdachi]

Hilarious.



...Wait... it isn't a joke? Does anyone have any idea what something like this would cost, not to mention the number of flaws and horrible accidents that are bound to happen?! I mean let's say soldier X is looking for cover, and finds only a nearby tank, moving at slow speed. He approaches at a rapid pace, but certainly not fast enough to activate the system. But then, the system malfunctions...

It's just one more electronic piece of crap that we have to deal with. One of these days, a real low-tech army with immense numbers (*cough* China *cough*) is going to attack us- and when we see all of our high tech, expensive equipment being chewed to pieces via sheer numbers, we will stop and say to ourselves, "What the hell happened?!"

Your glass is half empty isn’t it?

[CBR]

Trophy Active Protection System: http://www.defense-update.com/products/t/trophy.htm

The Russians have developed a similar system: http://www.defense-update.com/products/a/arena-e.htm


CBR

[DemonArchangel]

Trophy, Arena and Zaslon aren't "forcefields"

That's too simplified and misleading. What it really is more like a grenade or an explosive device that is launched from the tank, the fragments from which cause the offending munition to blow up prematurely.

[Duke of Gloucester]

Trophy, Arena and Zaslon aren't "forcefields"

That's too simplified and misleading. What it really is more like a grenade or an explosive device that is launched from the tank, the fragments from which cause the offending munition to blow up prematurely.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story!

[Ice]

It's just one more electronic piece of crap that we have to deal with. One of these days, a real low-tech army with immense numbers (*cough* China *cough*) is going to attack us- and when we see all of our high tech, expensive equipment being chewed to pieces via sheer numbers, we will stop and say to ourselves, "What the hell happened?!"

I doubt everyone of those 12,000 warheads would fail. Besides, why would China attack its largest trading partner?

[Lemur]

As others have said, I'm pretty sure this system is more of a point defense than force field. Please, people, let's save our Buck Rogers terms for when they're appropriate.

[yesdachi]

As others have said, I'm pretty sure this system is more of a point defense than force field. Please, people, let's save our Buck Rogers terms for when they're appropriate.

"beedee beedee beedee... Forcefield's up, Buck?"

[Divinus Arma]

:It's just one more electronic piece of crap that we have to deal with. One of these days, a real low-tech army with immense numbers (*cough* China *cough*) is going to attack us- and when we see all of our high tech, expensive equipment being chewed to pieces via sheer numbers, we will stop and say to ourselves, "What the hell happened?!"

Mass numbers just don't matter against technology. Seriously, look into it. Technology beats numbers 7 days a week and twice on Taco Tuesdays.


As for the video, it's neat, but no force field. I'm gald we may have new rapid countermeasure against these types of weapons. It kind of fails when you have a combined arms force of infantry and armor though, since the RPG gets to blow up near the infantry bubbas. Sounds like it would be best for combined armor operations (LAVs & Abrams combined force) and vehicle escorts/convoys.

[Avicenna]

I doubt everyone of those 12,000 warheads would fail. Besides, why would China attack its largest trading partner?

^^ What he said. Unless it's got economic benefits, I doubt any country would attack another. Especially without any kind of valid reason. If there was a reason, you wouldn't be taken by surprise, would you.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

What'll be cool is the thing on helicopters.

As the video noted, working copies would've been hella good in Somalia.

Sigh.

[Watchman]

The short interviews in the video alone gave off a very strong impression of the device being an active interception system. Since that didn't keep the Fox folks from calling it "force field" I can kind of see where they get their rep...

I actually first assumed it to be some sort of close-in field to distrupt the "plasma jet" shaped-charge warheads give off, a kind of high-tech version of the spaced armour trick.

Anyway, this toy seems kind of interesting in that it appears to be an early step in moving some aspects of tank warfare towards thoseund in modern naval warfare, with "SAMs" and other point-defense systems used to shoot down incoming missiles. Since ground vehicles and helos (nevermind infantrymen) cannot carry nearly as many missiles as decent-sized ships they'd logically have a way harder time achieving enough saturation to get something past the active defense layers, which would presumably have some troublesome effects on the ability of lighter vehicles and helos to kill MBTs since they lack the big cannons.

Unless they come up with new tricks for the missiles, natch.

I wonder if they'll ever try that approach some "near-future" sci-fi stories use where they just slap an autocannon or two in a mini-turret atop the main one and use that to shoot up incoming ordinance - doubles nicely as a secondary weapon against softer targets too...

Something I kinda wonder about is that this Trophy and similar systems use active radar (since they can catch even unguided RPGs), right ? Doesn't that make any vehicle using one kind of *really* obvious for assorted sensor systems ? Wonder if they can start using HARM bombs against tanks equipped with these things...