Quick Kill

Quick Kill is an active protection system (APS) designed to destroy incoming anti-tank missiles, rockets, and grenades. The Quick Kill system is designed and produced by Raytheon for the U.S. Army. The Quick Kill system was part of the United States Army's Future Combat Systems.

Quick Kill detects incoming RPGs and anti-tank missiles with an active electronically scanned array radar. Once its speed, trajectory, and intercept point are computed, Quick Kill vertically launches a small countermeasure missile. This kind of system is similar to the one that the Israeli Army uses for its ground forces. The system features two types of missiles: a smaller one for defense against close range weapons such as RPGs, and another, larger one to intercept longer range, faster anti-tank missiles or shells.^[2] The countermeasure missile intercepts the incoming threat and destroys it with a focused blast warhead. The Quick Kill missile has 360-degree capability and a reload capability, with each launcher typically containing 4 missiles. It can be used stationary or on the move with a wide range of vehicles from armored personnel carriers to airborne helicopters. It is likely that the Humvee or JLTV would not be suitable for the Quick Kill APS, due to the blast pressures generated when the incoming warhead detonates, which is likely to buckle lightly armored vehicles.^[3] The system's vertical launch countermeasure is unique in its ability to engage threats fired from any angle or elevation, providing all weather, full 360-degree hemispherical vehicle and crew protection with each countermeasure. The system has demonstrated its ability to defeat multiple threat types by defeating two simultaneous threats.^[4] Strengths of the Quick Kill include its reliable radar and interceptors that launch upward before diving, directing their blasts downward rather than sideways, reducing the chance of wounding accompanying troops; however, being basically a miniaturized missile defense system, the system is expensive and complex.^[5]

في 8 فبراير 2006، أصدرت شركة رايثيون بيانًا صحفيًا يفيد بأن نظامها "Quick Kill System" كان أول نظام حماية نشط (APS) يدمر قذيفة صاروخية موجهة ( RPG ) من مسافة قريبة، باستخدام رأس حربي دقيق الإطلاق ذي انفجار مركز، وذلك خلال اختبارات إطلاق نار حي أُجريت في اليوم السابق. ^{[ 6 ]} مع ذلك، لم تكن هذه المرة الأولى التي ينجح فيها نظام حماية نشط (APS) في التصدي لذخيرة قادمة. فقد زُودت الدبابات السوفيتية بنظام الحماية النشط "Drozd " في أوائل ثمانينيات القرن الماضي، وشهد استخدامًا واسعًا في الحرب السوفيتية الأفغانية على دبابات من طرازات أقدم. لاحقًا، خلال مؤتمر خاص بالدروع عُقد في كوبينكا عام 1995، وفرت دبابة سوفيتية من طراز T-72 مزودة بنسخة مُحدثة من نظام الحماية النشط (على الأرجح نظام الحماية النشط "Arena ") حماية ضد صواريخ "KONKURS" المضادة للدبابات وقذائف RPG . ^{[ 7 ]}

أثير جدلٌ عندما خطط مكتب تحويل القوات الأمريكي (OFT) لاختبار نظام الحماية النشطة "تروفي" ، وهو نظام إسرائيلي الصنع ولكنه أكثر تطورًا، على عدة ناقلات جند مدرعة من طراز "سترايكر" متجهة إلى العراق مطلع عام 2007. إلا أن الجيش الأمريكي ألغى هذه الجهود مفضلًا انتظار تطوير نظام "كويك كيل". ^{[ 8 ]} في الفترة 2006-2007، وجد معهد تحليل الدفاع أن نظام "كويك كيل" لا يزال في مراحله الأولى وينطوي على مخاطر تطوير كبيرة. فمكونات مهمة، مثل الرادار، لم تكن قد اكتمل تطويرها بعد، كما أن اختبار النظام ككل كان معلقًا ريثما يُعاد تصميم الرأس الحربي. ووجد المعهد أيضًا أن نظام "تروفي"، الذي يستخدم آلية قتل شبيهة ببندقية الصيد، هو الأكثر نضجًا من بين الأنظمة الخمسة عشر التي حللها.

According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report issued June 8, 2007, the Army estimated that Quick Kill could be available for prototype delivery to current force vehicles in fiscal year 2009 and tested on an FCS vehicle in 2011.^[9] Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson, a top Army acquisition official, testified to Congress that Quick Kill would be ready to "hang on a vehicle in about 2008" and that the Army was already beginning to do integration work to put the system on the Stryker; this was roughly the same time frame as Trophy. Sorenson also said they were concerned about Trophy's high weight, high power draw, lack of reload capability (which it now has), lack of 360 degree protection (also a problem that was taken care of), and higher probability of collateral damage to civilians. Raytheon reported May 22, 2007 that it had delivered its radar on time and on budget. Jane's Defence Weekly reported on Oct 18, 2007 that the US Army had ordered design changes to the Quick Kill system after some rocket motors in an APS interceptor showed 'splittage' in recent testing that summer.

In December 2012, the Quick Kill active protection system defeated an extended set of threats, including one of the most lethal RPG threats by destroying it in mid-flight. The system used the same radar technology that warns Forward Operating Bases of incoming rocket and mortar attacks. The testing is in preparation for formal government evaluations in early 2013 to demonstrate the system's unique RPG-defeat capabilities.^[4]

• مقطع فيديو على يوتيوب لنظام القتل السريع أثناء اختبار إطلاق نار حي.