Protection of fortifications against presision engagement - Preliminary study

A preliminary study of the possibility to limit the effect from precision engagement (PE) of fortifications with the use of defensive aid suite (DAS) technology, low observables (LO) technology and additional protection was performed. The choice of designs for fortifications and light shelters can further reduce the effects from PE. DAS systems are used on ships and for aircrafts, and are under development for armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) and MBTs. These types of protection systems are possible to develop further to be used for the protection of fortifications and other protective structures. The possibility to use heavy designs for both active protection systems and structural design makes it possible to obtain a design with a high degree of protection. For the protection of light fortifications it may be possible to use components developed for vehicles, i.e. AFVs. The use of signature adaption will also be an important part of the protection systems for light fortifications. An active protection system is composed of sensors, guidance system and warhead. Fragment charges, multiple EFP and moving steel plates can for example be used to intercept a warhead. The protection can be designed in layers i.e. surface to air missiles, active protection systems and protective structures to prevent a loss off protection when an active protection system is blinded due to a warhead detonation or forced to handle too many threats. Due to the short time between detection and impact for missiles with LO technology or high speed missiles it is necessary to use complementary protection apart from the active protection system.