Netherlands first APS user in NATO

Recently BAE announced that Netherlands contracted them for a testing and evaluation phase of the Iron Fist system on the CV9035NL Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

If the process goes well, in 2018 BAE will receive a follow-up contract for the system's acquisition. 

Dutch CV9035NL

This is good news not just for Israel or Netherlands but also NATO as a whole. 

Iron Fist is the top contender in USA's APS acquisition program which tests Iron Fist Light Configuration for its lighter platforms such as Bradley and Stryker. 

The Trophy system is also a top contender, aimed mainly at the Abrams MBTs however.  

IMI Iron Fist Active Protection System

The acquisition of Iron Fist LC (Light Configuration) by the US and Netherlands, and acquisition of Trophy by the US and Australia (Land 400 program), could create a family of unitary APS in NATO which will become economically viable for every member state to buy, thus increasing vastly both the protective and offensive capabilities of NATO. 

What kept most NATO member states so far from acquiring APS is the cost involved, and the fact that they're cutting down on manpower and budget. 

Iron Fist could become the primary APS for light platforms while Trophy would be the primary option for heavy platforms. 

However, Iron Fist wasn't initially developed for use on light platforms. It was developed by the IDF to counter a wide spectrum of threats, including one the Trophy wasn't designed to handle - APFSDS.

Iron Fist was initially developed with 3 launching tubes per launcher, later to be reduced to 2 to cope with rotation speed requirements.

Its main advantage is that its interceptor warhead could defeat APFSDS with ease. But it seems that for the US and Israel the Trophy system is the better option. 

Iron Fist and Trophy system are set to be combined into 1 next-gen system. Works have started in 2014 in a joint effort by Rafael, IMI, and Elta.