The ADS (active defence system), formerly known as AMAP-ADS, is a hard-kill active protection system (APS), developed by the German company ADS Gesellschaft für aktive Schutzsysteme, a subsidiary of Rheinmetall and IBD Deisenroth Engineering,[1] as part of their Advanced Modular Armor Protection concept.

In comparison to other hard-kill systems, there are no moving parts, which makes ADS light and reduces power requirements.

The system is not intended to completely substitute for passive armour as larger calibre projectiles will only be fragmented and not entirely deflected.

As part of the active armour concept in Sweden, it was installed in 2008 on the SEP designed by BAE Systems Hägglunds.

[6] On March 7 2018, the ADS successfully defeated three RPG-7V rounds fired at vehicles located in a simulated crowded urban marketplace, showing the system's low probability of collateral damage.

Different types of RPGs and ATGMs were launched at various spots like the sides or the roof from close range (15 metres (49 ft)), including multi-hit attacks, in which multiple threats were used in a short period of time.

[9] The short minimum defeat distance of the ADS-Gen3 allows intercepting projectiles launched as close as 10 metres (33 ft) to the vehicle.

[9] In case of the ADS-Gen3, the interception is claimed to be so accurate that the warhead of an incoming projectile can be defeated without setting off the fuse, resulting in less danger to nearby civilians, infantry and vehicles.

[12] The Hybrid Protection Module can be mounted on existing interface for installing passive add-on armour and requires about 150 millimetres (5.9 in) of space.

[12] The Hybrid Protection Module received the brand name StrikeShield in 2019 and was offered in cooperation with the US company Unified Business Technologies in the US Army's APS program for the Stryker.

[14] In 2022, Rheinmetall presented its KF51 Panther main battle tank fitted with the StrikeShield APS along the hull to protect against ATGMs, RPGs and armour-piercing rounds such as large-calibre APFSDS ammunition.

[15] Like the earlier ADS versions, StrikeShield uses a Central Information Management (CIM) system to process the data from the sensors, classify the threat and engage it.

In 2011, the series production of AMAP-ADS started for an Asian operator of the Leopard 2 tanks,[9] while a number of European armies considered buying it.