Virginia-based defense contractor Artis is forming a joint venture with the United Arab Emirates’ company Bin Hilal Enterprises to offer its Sentinel All-Threat Defeat System overseas. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding at the Eurosatory international defense conference in Paris on June 18. The joint venture will provide original equipment, manufacturing, engineering services, and lifecycle support.
Artis CEO Keith Brendley highlighted that Sentinel is a third-generation APS, capable of protecting against all threats, including top-attack protection from a swarm of drones and sabot rounds. Artis has demonstrated that Sentinel can protect vehicles from tank-fired rounds, anti-tank guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and exploding drones, among other threats.
Artis has been refining its capability for 20 years and had its Iron Curtain active protection system evaluated by the U.S. Army years ago but was never adopted. The Army pursued other options through a demonstration phase, including selecting Iron Curtain as an interim protection system for the Stryker in 2017, but did not field the system due to perceived development costs.
Artis has continued to develop its technology through investments and partnerships, concluding its work with the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office in June 2023. The company is confident in the market response to its unique system, anticipating interest from local and regional allies.
