In a ceremony held today in Germany, the Israeli and German ministries of defense inaugurated the first Leopard 2 tank upgraded with the Trophy Active Protection System (APS), developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. This moment marks the culmination of a government-to-government agreement signed in 2020, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of Germany’s Leopard 2 tank fleet.
Attending the ceremony were Carsten Stawitzki, the national armaments director of the German Ministry of Defense, and a representative from the Israeli Ministry’s Survivability Systems Branch, whose identity was kept confidential for security reasons.
Trophy has been operational on Israeli tanks for over a decade, and its integration into the Leopard 2 fleet enhances the tank’s defense against incoming threats. The system successfully underwent live-fire tests in 2021, conducted in collaboration with Rafael and Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), the manufacturer of the Leopard. At that time, the Israeli Ministry of Defense highlighted Trophy’s proven combat success and its integration on the Israel Defense Forces’ Merkava tanks.
“The advancements achieved through our industries’ cooperation with our German friends and partners will further strengthen the capabilities of both our defense establishments,” said Israel’s former Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the time. He expressed commitment to staying at the forefront of technological capabilities and deepening international defense relations.
Rafael has also established a joint venture in Germany called EuroTrophy, drawing from its success in supplying precision-guided missiles from the Spike family through the EuroSpike enterprise. This venture includes partnerships with General Dynamics European Land Systems, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, and Rafael, enhancing the collaborative defense efforts across Europe.
The Trophy system is also utilized by the IDF’s Namer armored personnel carriers and has been integrated on various platforms, including US Abrams tanks and UK Challenger 3 tanks. Additionally, Norway plans to deploy Trophy on its Leopard 2 tanks. Recent updates to the system, unveiled at the AUSA exhibition in early October, reflect lessons learned from Israeli combat experiences in Gaza and Lebanon, enhancing its capabilities to address top attack threats.
The integration of Trophy onto Leopard 2 tanks is part of a broader strategy, with Israel increasingly establishing high-profile defense partnerships in Europe. In 2023, Finland signed a deal to acquire Israel’s David’s Sling medium-range air defense system, while Germany finalized a contract to purchase the Arrow 3 missile defense system from Israel Aerospace Industries.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense characterized the Leopard 2 and Trophy collaboration as a significant milestone, part of a series of high-value defense agreements that underscore a mutual commitment between Israel and Germany to advance their defense capabilities.
