WASHINGTON / TEL AVIV : Elbit Systems has secured a major follow-on contract worth $228 million to supply its Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS) for the U.S. Army’s Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) upgrade program, deepening a multi-year effort to enhance the survivability of one of the Army’s core armored platforms.
The award was issued by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) after the U.S. Government published an order on September 29, 2025, formally advancing the Bradley APS program. Elbit Systems said the new agreement will be executed over a three-year period and builds directly on an initial contract announced on May 5, 2024, marking a continuation and expansion of Iron Fist integration on the Bradley fleet.
Strengthening Bradley Survivability
The Bradley IFV, a mainstay of U.S. armored formations since the Cold War, is undergoing a series of incremental upgrades aimed at keeping the platform viable against rapidly evolving battlefield threats. Central to that effort is the adoption of modern active protection systems, which are designed to detect, track, and defeat incoming munitions before impact.
Elbit’s Iron Fist APS is a hard-kill system that intercepts threats in close proximity to the vehicle. Unlike traditional passive armor solutions, Iron Fist uses advanced sensors and countermeasures to neutralize incoming weapons, significantly improving crew survivability without imposing prohibitive penalties in weight or power consumption.
According to Elbit Systems, Iron Fist delivers full 360-degree coverage against a wide spectrum of modern threats, including anti-tank rockets, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions, and even kinetic-energy tank rounds. The system is engineered to function effectively in both open terrain and dense urban environments, where reaction times are compressed and threat vectors are more complex.
A Compact, Second-Generation System
Iron Fist is the Israel Defense Forces’ second-generation active protection system, developed to balance high performance with a compact footprint. Elbit emphasizes the system’s low volume, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements—key attributes for integration on legacy platforms like the Bradley, where available space and electrical capacity are limited.
The design philosophy behind Iron Fist reflects lessons learned from recent conflicts, where armored vehicles have faced persistent threats from shoulder-fired weapons, top-attack munitions, and increasingly sophisticated drones. By combining rapid threat detection with precise interception, Iron Fist aims to close the vulnerability gap exposed on modern battlefields.
Expanding U.S. Army Adoption
Elbit Systems noted that the latest award represents the third time the Iron Fist APS has been selected by the U.S. Army, underscoring growing confidence in the system’s maturity and performance. Beyond the United States, Iron Fist has already been chosen by the Israel Defense Forces and by multiple NATO and international armies for integration across a range of armored fighting platforms.
For GD-OTS, which serves as the prime contractor for Bradley upgrades, the follow-on contract reinforces a long-term industrial partnership with Elbit Systems. The collaboration aligns with broader U.S. defense priorities to rapidly field proven technologies while leveraging allied industrial capabilities.
Industry and Strategic Context
The contract comes amid heightened global focus on armored vehicle protection, driven by conflicts where even heavily armored platforms have proven vulnerable to relatively low-cost anti-armor weapons. Western militaries, including the U.S. Army, have accelerated efforts to deploy APS solutions as a critical layer of defense alongside traditional armor and electronic warfare systems.
By expanding Iron Fist integration on the Bradley, the U.S. Army is signaling a commitment to keeping its mechanized infantry forces survivable and relevant in high-intensity combat scenarios, particularly in environments saturated with precision-guided munitions and drones.
Executive Perspective
Commenting on the award, Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems, highlighted the strategic importance of the program. “Our globally recognized Active Protection System continues to demonstrate its technological edge,” he said. “As a leading provider in this field, we are proud of our close and strategic partnership with GD-OTS and the U.S. Army, and of the trust placed in us to deliver systems that enhance survivability and protect the lives of American troops in the field.”
With the new $228 million contract in place, Iron Fist APS is set to become a central component of the Bradley’s modernization pathway, reflecting a broader shift in armored warfare toward active, layered defense solutions designed for the realities of the modern battlefield.
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