The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) active protection system, the Trophy, has successfully intercepted, for the first time, an anti-tank missile fired at an IDF tank patrolling in the southern Gaza Strip.

An IDF officer in the armoured corps, confirming a hit, said the system operated automatically and hit the missile without any casualties.

“The soldiers were not even sure an anti-tank missile had been fired at them,” he added.

The Trophy (ASPRO-A) system, a collaborative effort between Rafael, Elta Group and General Dynamics, has been designed to actively protect IDF tanks against anti-tank missiles.

The active protection system identifies various incoming threats including anti-tank missiles through special radars and sensors and fires back at the threat.