March 4, 2008:
British Warrior tracked
Infantry Fighting Vehicles in Iraq are receiving new add-on armor to protect
against RPGs. This consists of panels of insensitive (won't detonate
accidentally) reactive armor on the front and sides. The upgrade package
includes new appliqué armor, for additional protection against fragments from
bombs. The new armor was developed by an Israeli firm, but the British prefer
to play that down. The Warrior vehicles are sent to Kuwait for the upgrade. The
British prefer the reactive armor to the metal "cage" protection (as used by
the American Stryker vehicles). The U.S. has used similar reactive armor on its
equivalent of the Warrior (the M-2 Bradley).