Textron offers counter-RPG system

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WILMINGTON, Mass., Sept. 19 (UPI) -- A system to protect vehicles from rocket-propelled grenades has been offered to the U.S. Army by Textron Defense Systems.

Textron's Tactical RPG Airbag Protection System 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.

Textron said it submitted a three-year proposal for the system to the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center for the Rocket-Propelled Grenade Active Protection. It was offered through BRTRC of Fairfax, Va., the prime contractor on TARDEC's omnibus contracting vehicle.

The TRAP program consists of three, 12-month phases. Phase I consists of design work leading to a TARDEC technology readiness level 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."