Textron Offers TRAPS for TARDEC's Active Protection Program

source defensetech.org

Sep 16, 2011 ASDNews Source : Textron Inc.

Wilmington, MA - Textron Defense Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, announced today that it has submitted a three-year proposal to the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) for the Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) Active Protection, or RAP, program.

Teamed with BRTRC of Fairfax, Va., prime contractor on TARDEC's omnibus contracting vehicle, Textron Defense Systems' offering is based on the company's highly mature Tactical RPG Airbag Protection System (TRAPS). TRAPS is an active vehicle protection system incorporating Textron Defense Systems' sensors, which are configured to identify incoming RPGs. Once the sensors confirm an RPG threat, a TRAPS countermeasure is deployed to defeat the RPG and prevent vehicle penetration. Lightweight and constructed of commercial, off-the-shelf components, TRAPS is integrated easily onto any ground vehicle, wheeled or tracked, within the vehicle's existing profile.

The RAP program consists of three, 12-month phases. Phase I is intended to span October 2011 through September 2012, and to consist of design work leading to a TARDEC technology readiness level, or TRL, 4 assessment.

"Our TRAPS system showcased its maturity during a six-week test event by the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 2010, including live RPG threats against both stationary and moving vehicles from several angles and ranges," says Textron Defense Systems Vice President of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Protection Systems Thomas McNamara. "We also recently completed successful testing of our TRAPSNet passive variant with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In both cases, TRAPS exhibited exceptional performance, as well as the flexibility to provide that level of protection to any vehicle -- making it the mature, low-risk solution for TARDEC's requirements."