Update "Wind of Change" added active protection systems (APS) to ground vehicles. These devices provide automatic defense against ATGMs or slow flying shells like HEAT-FS. While it is possible to shoot down incoming ATGMs manually, particularly using machine guns, this can be difficult against fast-moving or minimally visible missiles; thus, active protection systems provide an extra layer of security against ATGM threats.
There are two categories of APS:
- A softkill system will not destroy the incoming projectile, but disturb its guiding system so that it will miss the target.
- A hardkill system tries to detect and destroy the projectile itself by firing a defensive charge at the incoming projectile.
Electro-optical APS
Electro-optical APS (also known as "soft-kill APS" or "infrared countermeasures" (IRCM)) are a group of active protection systems that utilise light emitters to disrupt the guidance of incoming missiles.
Electro-optical APS acts on SACLOS-guided missiles that do not feature an electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) system.
Missiles that utilise a different guidance system (e.g. MCLOS, laser, TV) as well as SACLOS missiles with ECCM will be unaffected by the operation of an electro-optical system.
There are following soft-kill APS in game:
- American AN/VLQ-8A
- German MUSS
- Soviet Shtora-1
- Chinese JD-3
- French EIREL
Hard-kill APS
Following hard kill APS are available in-game:
- AMAP-ADS on KF-41
- Iron Fist on Black Night
- Trophy on Merkava Mk.4M
Drozd
Drozd is a constantly active APS which provides protection against a wide variety of threats. It is composed of three major pieces: a Doppler radar array for target detection, charge launchers on the sides of the turret, and an electronics piece on the turret's rear. It detects targets in front and engages them inside a 7 m distance. The main disadvantage of this system is that it follows the direction of the turret, meaning it can only successfully destroy targets that in the line of sight.
Drozd can be used while on the move (although the turret must be facing the target as stated before). While on the move (especially horizontally), the detected ATGM has a risk of escaping the activation range of the Drozd. When moving towards an enemy who fired an ATGM, it will be affected by the APS but due to momentum, the ATGM can still damage the tank even when destroyed. Drozd must have a clear line-of-sight with the enemy threat (at least APS must be exposed).