AUSTIN, Texas — May 27, 2026 : BAE Systems has secured the U.S. Army’s Soft Kill Active Protection System (APS) program of record contract to equip military ground vehicles with advanced electronic warfare-based defensive capabilities using the company’s Rapid Optical Observation and Kill (ROOK) system. The award supports the Army’s ongoing effort to improve ground vehicle survivability through layered, non-kinetic protection technologies.
The ROOK system is designed to counter incoming threats such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) through soft-kill electronic warfare measures. Rather than physically intercepting threats, the system jams or disrupts hostile guidance systems, preventing munitions from accurately striking vehicles. According to BAE Systems, this capability enhances crew survivability and mission effectiveness by improving situational awareness and reducing response time in complex battlefield conditions.
As a soft-kill countermeasure, ROOK is intended to neutralize threats before impact while preserving the limited magazine depth of traditional hard-kill systems, which depend on kinetic interceptors. By relying on electronic disruption instead of expendable munitions, the system enables crews to conserve hard-kill defenses for specialized engagements and maintain sustained protection against multiple threats.
BAE Systems said the system forms part of its broader “Intrepid Shield” layered protection concept, which integrates multiple defensive technologies to create a comprehensive protective architecture for military platforms. The approach combines electronic warfare, sensors, and countermeasure systems to strengthen vehicle survivability in contested environments.
“Modern ground warfare demands a layered defense, and soft-kill technologies are a critical, complementary component,” said Dave Gillespie, director of Optics and Countermeasure Solutions at BAE Systems. “ROOK offers a cost-effective, sustainable defense with an infinite magazine depth, continuously disrupting enemy systems.”
The contract builds upon earlier Army-supported research and development efforts, including the Advanced Layered Soft Kill System (ALSKS) and Layered Soft Kill System (LSKS) programs, which helped mature electronic warfare-based active protection technologies for armored vehicles. The current program is sponsored by the U.S. Government under an Other Transaction agreement through the National Advanced Mobility Consortium to support the accelerated fielding of adaptable vehicle protection systems.
In addition to ROOK, the contract will support continued development of BAE Systems’ Stormcrow and TERRA RAVEN countermeasure systems. These modular, laser-based infrared countermeasures are adapted from aircraft self-protection technologies and designed to protect military vehicles against guided threats, including anti-tank missiles. The systems can also operate in conjunction with BAE Systems’ 360 MVP Sensor suite, which uses longwave infrared camera cores to provide continuous 360-degree threat detection and early warning capabilities.
The agreement further includes delivery of prototype systems for vehicle integration and operational testing as part of the U.S. Army’s objective to rapidly deploy scalable and adaptable active protection systems across its ground combat vehicle fleet. No contract value has been disclosed.
BAE Systems has supplied survivability and protection equipment to the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military forces for decades. Development and manufacturing of its vehicle protection technologies are conducted at the company’s Austin, Texas facility, while specialized research and development support is provided through its FAST Labs organization in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
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