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Sarab Active Protection System

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Sarab
سراب
TypeActive protection system
Place of originSyria
Service history
In service2016–present
Used by Syria
WarsSyrian Civil War
Production history
DesignerSyrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (CERS)
Designed2015–2017
Produced2016–present
VariantsSarab-1
Sarab-2
Sarab-3
Specifications
Mass1100kg

The Sarab Active Protection System (Mirage) is an active protection system, developed by the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (CERS) and designed to help the Syrian Army’s T-55, T-62, T-72 and T-72 Adra tanks counter line of sight anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).[1]

Design

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Syrian intelligence acquired 18 Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles from the Free Syrian Army; these missiles were used by the CERS to develop a countermeasure.[2] The resulting soft-kill system incorporated powerful infrared (IR) jamming lights which were 80% effective against ATGMs.[1][3] This has significantly reduced Syrian tank losses during the Syrian civil war.

Sarab can effectively jam SACLOS missiles such as the TOW (also TOW 2), HOT, MILAN, Dragon, 9K115-2 Metis-M, 9M113 Konkurs and Malyutka and laser guided weapons such as the Copperhead and some variants of the Maverick and Hellfire.[1]

Versions

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As of 2017, the Sarab (Mirage) system has three versions:

  • Sarab-1 was introduced in early 2016. Using multiple IR emitters mounted on a tank turret, it covers the 180° frontal arc of the tank and can operate for 6 hours.
  • Sarab-2 entered service at the end of 2016. It includes a protective casing and uses less power, letting it operate continuously for up to 10 hours.[4]
  • Sarab-3 was introduced in 2017. Unlike the prior variants, it provides full 360 degree protection by using more IR emitters.[1][5]

Operators

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Current operators

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Eshel, Tamir (1 March 2017). "Home Grown Syrian Soft Kill System Successfully Defeated TOW Missiles". Defense Update.
  2. ^ Murakhovsky, Viktor (1 March 2016). "Т90 в Сирии: "Экипаж танка был слабо подготовлен"". gazeta.ru. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  3. ^ Villasanta, Arthur Dominic (2 March 2017). "New Syrian Army Infrared Jammer Protects Tanks vs TOW and other ATGMs". Chinatopix.
  4. ^ "In Syria, new anti-missile "birdhouses" were spotted on the T-72". Vestnik. 6 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Sarab 1 ,2 &3 Active Protection System". within-syria.blogspot.ca.