German defense manufacturer Hensoldt recently announced a new order for its Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) to equip Ukraine’s helicopters. The precise details of the order were not disclosed, but it is estimated to be a significant eight-figure dollar amount, according to Janes defense publication.
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Hensoldt had previously supplied 16 AMPS kits to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in June 2023. The new order aims to equip a different platform from the previous one, enhancing the self-protection capabilities of Ukraine’s diverse helicopter fleet consisting mainly of older Soviet airframes.
The AMPS system offers versatile protection against various threats with five configurations: AMPS-M, AMPS-MV, AMPS-ML, AMPS-MLR, and AMPS-MD. Each configuration provides different levels of defense against missiles, lasers, and radar threats. The components of the AMPS kits include missile launch detection sensors, control units, and countermeasure dispensing systems.
The AMPS system is designed to counter surface-to-air missiles, including MANPADS, and can be customized to meet specific operational requirements. It enhances the existing self-protection capabilities of Ukrainian helicopters without interfering with their current countermeasure dispensing systems.