Elbit Systems receives follow-on contract to provide Iron Fist APS for US Army Bradleys

Israel’s Elbit Systems announced on 26 January 2026 that it has been awarded a USD 228 million (EUR 192 million) follow-on contract by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) to supply its Iron Fist active protection system (APS) to upgrade US Army Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

The award follows the US Defense Logistics Agency issuing GD-OTS a USD 383.5 million contract for the Bradley Fighting vehicle Active Protection System on 29 September 2025. Elbit’s contract is to be executed over a period of three years.

Elbit was initially awarded an Iron Fist APS contract by GD-OTS in 2024, as announced by the company on 5 May of that year.

The Iron Fist APS is an advanced hard-kill APS designed to enhance the survivability and self-defence capabilities of armoured platforms against a wide range of modern battlefield threats. As the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF’s) second-generation APS, Iron Fist combines high performance with a compact design, characterised by low volume, weight and power requirements. The system delivers 360° protection against various anti-armour threats, including anti-tank rockets, anti-tank guided weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions, and kinetic-energy (APFSDS) tank ammunition, in both open terrain and complex urban environments.

As well as being chosen by the IDF, the Iron Fist APS has also been selected by leading NATO and other armies worldwide for a variety of armoured platforms. This latest GD-OTS contract marks the system’s third selection by the US Army, Elbit noted.

“Our globally recognised active protection system continues to demonstrate its technological edge,” Butzi Machlis, president and CEO of Elbit Systems, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “As a leading provider in this field, we are proud of our close and strategic partnership with GD-OTS and the US Army, and of the trust placed in us to deliver systems that enhance survivability and protect the lives of American troops in the field.”

A US Army Bradley infantry fighting vehicle fitted with Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist APS. [US Army]