Artis, a Virginia-based defense contractor, has formed a joint venture with Bin Hilal Enterprises from the United Arab Emirates to offer its active protection system. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding at the Eurosatory international defense conference in Paris on June 18.
Artis has been demonstrating its Sentinel All-Threat Defeat System, formerly known as Improved Iron Curtain, with international interest, particularly in the Middle East. The joint venture will provide original equipment, manufacturing and engineering services, lifecycle support, spare parts, field services, warranty support, and training to local and regional allies.
According to Artis CEO Keith Brendley, the Sentinel system is a third-generation APS that can protect against all threats, including top-attack protection from drones, sabot rounds, and fuzed threats. The system can protect vehicles and infrastructure from direct-fire threats like tank-fired rounds, anti-tank guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and exploding drones.
Artis spent 20 years refining its capability to handle threats to combat vehicles, including top-attack threats. The U.S. Army evaluated Iron Curtain but never adopted the technology, opting for other solutions to protect combat vehicles like Abrams tanks, Strykers, and Bradley fighting vehicles. Artis developed top-attack protection design around 2008 and gained traction with a contract from the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office in June 2023.
