Israel develops new missile interceptor, dubbed "Iron Fist"

The Israeli Defense Ministry on December 12 announced a successful test of an in-development missile defence system for the military’s new advanced armoured personnel carrier, and potentially for its armoured bulldozers.

The system, dubbed "Iron Fist" and developed by Elbit Systems, was fitted on an Eitan APC in the test, The Times of Israel informs. The ministry said it would also be deployed to the military’s D9 bulldozers once the development is complete.

The Eitan is an eight-wheeled lightweight vehicle that combines technologies from the Merkava tank and the Namer APC. It was built partially in response to lessons learned from the 2014 Gaza war and will replace the Israel Defense Forces’ current M113 fully tracked APCs.

The Iron Fist, similar to the TROPHY system currently deployed on the IDF’s Merkava tanks and Namer APCs, blocks incoming anti-tank missiles and rockets.

The new system is made up of a radar and electro-optic detection system that spots incoming missiles and predicts their trajectories and launchers that fire projectiles, causing the incoming missile or rocket to detonate away from the APC or bulldozer.

The system also pinpoints the source of the attack, allowing the soldiers inside the APC to return fire more quickly.

The ministry said the recent test involved launching antitank missiles at the APC “in various challenging scenarios.”

In the summer, the Defense Ministry delivered the first Eitan to the IDF.

The Eitan is intended to give troops greater speed and mobility — it can reach 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph) — as well as better security.

Each APC requires the production of approximately one million parts, including over 20 tons of steel, 30 kilometres of welding wire, six kilometres of power and communication cable, and about 70 litres of paint.