Nanjing-based private company Herakles Defense Technology announced at Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai, held from 6 to 11 November, that it is developing a new indigenous hard-kill active protection system (APS).
The APS suite, called Velociraptor, is designed for use aboard land combat platforms such as armoured personnel carriers (APCs), infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), and main battle tanks (MBTs), as well as strategically vital assets such as ballistic missile launchers and early warning radar vehicles.
Jane’s understands from Herakles Defense that the Velociraptor APS is close to final design with field trials expected to commence in 2019, although company chairman Yong Wang admitted that it would be a challenge securing the necessary permits, vehicles, and guided munitions for live testing in the Chinese mainland.