Military History Made Today

The first battlefield deployment of an anti-tank missile defense system became operational today when the IDF's Trophy unit detected and destroyed an incoming anti-tank missile.
Israel already has what might be described as the best tanks in the world and they probably out-perform the American Abrams M1 A2 main battle tank. But even the formidable Merkava (chariot) main battle tank has been vulnerable to the Russian Kornet which is likely the most lethal ant-tank weapon in the world. A Kornet missile scored a direct hit on a Merkava a few months ago in the Gaza and it managed to penetrate the hull and its classified armor. Fortunately, the Merkava represents a radical evolution in tank design in that it puts the engine and transmission in the front of the tank, ahead of its crew. The trophy system reportedly has a 100% success rate in stopping any known ant-tank projectile, including RPGs. I see from the article, the US is studying the system although it has another in development.
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=210366

Small tanks? Anyways, HoooRAH!

Rod Kaufman said:

The first battlefield deployment of an anti-tank missile defense system became operational today when the IDF's Trophy unit detected and destroyed an incoming anti-tank missile.
Israel already has what might be described as the best tanks in the world and they probably out-perform the American Abrams M1 A2 main battle tank. But even the formidable Merkava (chariot) main battle tank has been vulnerable to the Russian Kornet which is likely the most lethal ant-tank weapon in the world. A Kornet missile scored a direct hit on a Merkava a few months ago in the Gaza and it managed to penetrate the hull and its classified armor. Fortunately, the Merkava represents a radical evolution in tank design in that it puts the engine and transmission in the front of the tank, ahead of its crew. The trophy system reportedly has a 100% success rate in stopping any known ant-tank projectile, including RPGs. I see from the article, the US is studying the system although it has another in development.
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=210366

Rod Kaufman said:

The first battlefield deployment of an anti-tank missile defense system became operational today when the IDF's Trophy unit detected and destroyed an incoming anti-tank missile.
Israel already has what might be described as the best tanks in the world and they probably out-perform the American Abrams M1 A2 main battle tank. But even the formidable Merkava (chariot) main battle tank has been vulnerable to the Russian Kornet which is likely the most lethal ant-tank weapon in the world. A Kornet missile scored a direct hit on a Merkava a few months ago in the Gaza and it managed to penetrate the hull and its classified armor. Fortunately, the Merkava represents a radical evolution in tank design in that it puts the engine and transmission in the front of the tank, ahead of its crew.

It's an OK tank, good for its specific role, but it sure ain't a Leopard or an Abrams.