Support Equipment

Iron Fist Light Decoupled active protection system

Also known as
  • IFLD
  • IF-LD
  • Iron Fist APS
  • Iron Fist Light
  • Iron Fist Light Decoupled

Iron Fist Light Decoupled is Elbit Systems' hard-kill active protection system for light and medium armored vehicles. The system combines optical and radar sensing with launcher-fired countermeasures, and public procurement records tie it to Israeli Eitan and D9 integration as well as U.S. Army Bradley modernization work; no direct conflict-use source was found for the IFLD component itself.

Iron Fist Light Decoupled active protection system, Active protection system, Support Equipment
Image source: Army IFLD Bradley tests
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel
Type
Active protection system
Service note
2010s-present

Specifications

Protection role
Hard-kill active protection for light and medium armored vehicles
Coverage
360-degree protection in open terrain and urban settings
Sensors
Optical sensors and tracking radar, with Elbit describing independent RF and passive IR sensing in the Iron Fist family
Countermeasures
Launcher-fired lightweight projectiles or blast interceptors intended to defeat incoming anti-tank threats away from the host vehicle
Threat set
Elbit's light configuration literature identifies anti-tank rockets, anti-tank guided missiles, and recoilless rifle threats
Platform fit
Designed for AFVs, IFVs, and logistics vehicles with limited size, weight, and power margins
Bradley integration
DOT&E reported that the IFLD A-kit and B-kit together added about 1,780 pounds to a Bradley A4 test vehicle
Family note
The broader Iron Fist APS line includes light and heavy configurations for different vehicle classes
Carrier Platforms

Public procurement and test sources connect Iron Fist Light Decoupled to Israeli armored vehicles and to the U.S. Army's Bradley active-protection work.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
Eitan wheeled armored personnel carrier, Wheeled armored personnel carrier, Armored VehiclesEitan wheeled armored personnel carrierWheeled armored personnel carrier

Elbit announced an Israeli Ministry of Defense order to supply Iron Fist systems for the Eitan AFV, and later material describes IFLD on Eitan.

Sources: Elbit Eitan initial contract, Elbit IFLD announcement

Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer, Armored bulldozer, Armored VehiclesCaterpillar D9 armored bulldozerArmored engineering vehicle

Elbit's IFLD announcement says Israel selected Iron Fist Light Decoupled for the IDF's D-9 Bulldozer, with integration testing also reported on armored bulldozers.

Sources: Elbit IFLD announcement, Defense Update Eitan D9 tests

M2 Bradley, Tracked infantry fighting vehicle, Armored VehiclesM2 BradleyInfantry fighting vehicle

The U.S. Army identified Iron Fist Light Decoupled as the APS tested on Bradley A4 vehicles and later awarded follow-on Iron Fist APS work for Bradley upgrades.

Sources: Army IFLD Bradley tests, Elbit Bradley follow-on contract

Integration Record

The public record is strongest as an integration and protection-system page rather than a conflict-use page. Sources identify IFLD by name for Israeli and Bradley work; CV90 reporting is useful family context but does not label the Dutch installation as this specific IFLD model.

LaneSupported contextCatalog treatment
Israeli vehiclesElbit and later reporting identify Eitan and D-9 bulldozer integration for the light decoupled system.Linked as carrier-platform relationships.
U.S. BradleyThe U.S. Army and DOT&E describe IFLD testing on Bradley A4 vehicles, while Elbit announced later Bradley APS production awards.Linked as a carrier-platform relationship with a test-history caveat.
Dutch CV90BAE Systems reported Dutch CV90 integration of Elbit's Iron Fist active protection solution after earlier evaluation work.Kept as broader Iron Fist family context, not listed as an IFLD carrier without a model-specific source.
Timeline

Iron Fist Light Decoupled active protection system Key Events

  1. Israeli Eitan order announced

    Elbit announced an initial Israeli Ministry of Defense contract to supply Iron Fist systems for Eitan armored fighting vehicles.

    Sources: Elbit Eitan initial contract

  2. Israeli Eitan and D9 integration testing reported

    Defense Update reported Israeli completion of Iron Fist APS integration tests on the Eitan APC and armored bulldozer applications.

    Sources: Defense Update Eitan D9 tests

  3. U.S. Army reports improved Bradley IFLD tests

    The U.S. Army said Bradley A4 testing in 2022 showed improved Iron Fist Light Decoupled results compared with earlier limited user testing.

    Sources: Army IFLD Bradley tests, DOT&E FY2022 APS report

  4. Bradley follow-on contract announced

    Elbit announced a $228 million follow-on award to supply Iron Fist APS for U.S. Army Bradley infantry fighting vehicle upgrades.

    Sources: Elbit Bradley follow-on contract

Media

Iron Fist Light Decoupled active protection system Videos

Related Weapon Systems
Iron Sting 120 mm guided mortar munition, 120 mm guided mortar munition, ArtilleryArtilleryIron Sting 120 mm guided mortar munition120 mm guided mortar munitionIron Sting is an Israeli 120 mm laser- and GPS-guided mortar munition from Elbit Systems that gives mortar units a precision-fire option without changing the basic 120 mm smoothbore mortar role. Elbit's 2025 brochure lists GPS, combined laser/GPS, and laser-only guidance modes, a 1.5-10 km range depending on the mortar system, and less-than-5 m CEP in semi-active laser mode. Israeli and defense reporting document Maglan and other IDF commando units using it in Gaza and along the Lebanon border after October 2023.
Weaponized civilian bulldozer or front loader, Combat engineering bulldozer/front loader, Armored VehiclesArmored VehiclesWeaponized civilian bulldozer or front loaderCombat engineering bulldozer/front loaderWeaponized civilian bulldozers and front loaders are heavy construction machines adapted for combat engineering, barrier breaching, demolition, and protected route work. The Israeli Caterpillar D9 family is the best-documented armored example, appearing in Gaza operations in 2008, 2014, and 2023 and in the July 2023 Jenin operation, while Hamas-led attackers also used construction equipment for barrier breaching on October 7. Remote-control and autonomous conversions such as Panda and RobDozer reduce crew exposure during IED, obstacle, berm, and demolition tasks.
Barak MX, Integrated air and missile defense system, Air DefenseAir DefenseBarak MXIntegrated air and missile defense systemBarak MX is Israel Aerospace Industries' modular air and missile defense system for land, naval, and mobile deployment, built around networked battle management, radars, launchers, and the Barak SR, MR, LR, and ER interceptor family. Its Israeli Navy configuration is publicly described as Barak Magen on Sa'ar 6 missile ships, where IDF and IAI reporting tied LRAD interceptions to Operation Rising Lion during the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict; export reporting and official releases also document Barak MX sales or deliveries to Slovakia, Thailand, Cyprus, Morocco, and Azerbaijan.

Sources

Elbit IFLD announcementPublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports manufacturer background, specifications, and the Israeli D-9 Bulldozer selection for Iron Fist Light Decoupled. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Elbit Iron Fist APS product pagePublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports manufacturer background, specifications, and family context for Iron Fist APS light and heavy configurations. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Elbit Eitan initial contractPublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports Israeli Ministry of Defense procurement context for Iron Fist systems on Eitan armored fighting vehicles. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Army IFLD Bradley testsPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports Bradley A4 Iron Fist Light Decoupled test context, survivability rationale, and U.S. Army public-domain image provenance for 1a909bfc/original.jpg. | Accessed: 2026-06-29DOT&E FY2022 APS reportPublisher: Director, Operational Test and Evaluation | Note: Supports Bradley IFLD test-history caveats and the reported A-kit and B-kit weight added to the Bradley A4 test vehicle. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Elbit Bradley follow-on contractPublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports later U.S. Army Bradley APS procurement context for Elbit's Iron Fist active protection systems. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Defense Update Eitan D9 testsPublisher: Defense Update | Note: Supports reported Eitan APC and armored bulldozer Iron Fist integration testing and the selected YouTube video context. | Accessed: 2026-06-29BAE Dutch CV90 Iron FistPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports broader Iron Fist family context for Dutch CV90 integration, while not identifying that installation as the IFLD model. | Accessed: 2026-06-29