Tel Aviv / Stockholm: Israeli defense electronics major Elbit Systems Ltd. has secured new contracts valued at approximately $150 million for its Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS), awarded by BAE Systems Hägglunds. The systems will be integrated onto CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) operated by multiple European NATO member states, further expanding Iron Fist’s footprint across Western armored forces.
The contracts follow a high-profile live-fire demonstration conducted in Europe in September 2025, during which Iron Fist achieved one of the most demanding milestones in the active protection domain. According to Elbit, the system successfully intercepted more than a dozen 120 mm kinetic-energy (KE) APFSDS tank rounds, a feat rarely demonstrated by any hard-kill APS. The trials, attended by senior military leadership and defense industry executives from across Europe, validated Iron Fist’s effectiveness against the most lethal anti-armor threats on modern battlefields.
From Trials to Fleet Integration
The Iron Fist APS will be installed on the CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, a combat-proven platform widely fielded by European NATO armies and regarded as one of the most advanced IFVs in service. Integration will be carried out by BAE Systems Hägglunds, the original equipment manufacturer of the CV90, ensuring full compatibility with existing vehicle architectures, sensors, and mission systems.
Defense analysts note that the contract reflects growing European urgency to upgrade armored vehicle survivability, driven by lessons from recent high-intensity conflicts where anti-tank guided missiles, loitering munitions, and top-attack threats have played a decisive role.
Iron Fist APS: Design and Operational Concept
Iron Fist is Israel Defense Forces’ second-generation active protection system, developed to provide comprehensive hard-kill defense while minimizing impact on vehicle mobility and crew workload. Unlike earlier APS designs that focused primarily on shaped-charge threats, Iron Fist was engineered from the outset to defeat both chemical-energy and kinetic-energy threats.
The system employs distributed, high-performance sensors, including advanced radar and electro-optical elements, to detect, track, and classify incoming threats in real time. Once a threat is confirmed, Iron Fist calculates an intercept solution and launches a focused countermeasure that neutralizes the projectile at a safe distance from the vehicle. Elbit emphasizes that the interception mechanism is designed to reduce collateral damage and infantry risk, a critical requirement for urban and combined-arms operations.
Technical Specifications and Capabilities
In operational terms, Iron Fist delivers continuous 360-degree hemispherical protection, covering both horizontal and elevated attack profiles. The system is capable of defeating Anti-Tank Rockets (ATR), Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), loitering munitions, and kinetic-energy APFSDS tank ammunition, including high-velocity 120 mm rounds.
A key design advantage lies in Iron Fist’s compact architecture, characterized by low volume, weight, and power requirements. This allows integration not only on heavy armored vehicles but also on medium and lighter platforms without major structural modifications. The APS interfaces with the vehicle’s battle management system, enabling crew situational awareness and potential cueing of other onboard defenses.
Iron Fist is also designed for high operational availability, with modular components that simplify maintenance and lifecycle support. According to Elbit, the system has undergone extensive qualification under extreme climatic and battlefield conditions, ensuring reliability in both open terrain and dense urban environments.
Strategic Significance for Europe
The selection of Iron Fist for NATO CV90 fleets underscores a shift toward mature, combat-validated APS solutions as standard equipment rather than optional upgrades. European armies are increasingly prioritizing survivability against top-tier threats, particularly KE penetrators traditionally considered beyond the reach of most APS technologies.
By integrating Iron Fist, CV90 operators gain a layered defense combining passive armor, electronic countermeasures, and now a hard-kill shield capable of stopping tank-fired penetrators, significantly increasing crew survivability and vehicle mission endurance.
Industry and Leadership Perspective
Commenting on the contracts, Yehuda Vered, General Manager of Elbit Systems Land, said that Iron Fist’s growing adoption reflects rising confidence among Western militaries. He emphasized that the results of the September 2025 live-fire trials reinforced trust in the system’s performance, particularly against the most challenging threats. Vered also highlighted Elbit’s strategic partnership with BAE Systems Hägglunds, describing it as a key driver in expanding Iron Fist’s presence across Europe and enhancing the protection of armored forces worldwide.
Looking Ahead
With these new $150 million contracts, Iron Fist moves closer to becoming a benchmark APS for NATO armored formations, joining a small group of systems proven against kinetic-energy threats. As European defense spending continues to rise and armored modernization accelerates, Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist is positioned to play a central role in shaping the next generation of protected combat vehicles.
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